 Teachers can't always be there |
Ten children a year in the UK commit suicide because of bullying. It may be difficult for teachers to provide protection for vulnerable children at all times.
A new approach to the problem sees children trained as mediators to help resolve the conflict themselves.
The BBC's One Life series looks at the issue in depth this evening. "Beating the Bullies" takes us into the secret world of a junior school playground through the kids' eyes and shows us just what the reality of school bullying is.
That's on BBC One at 10.35 tonight.
We spoke to schoolgirl Stephanie Robertson - one of the stars of tonight's documentary - and Jason Knibbs, mediation trainer.
Jason Knibbs is from CRISP - the Conflict Resolution in Schools Programme.
His programme trains children to be mediators. They then try to resolve conflicts between children a year or two younger than themselves.
He says his programme allows children to construct the rules themselves. Once other children are brought into a conflict, they can often turn peer pressure into a positive force, he says.
He says putting children themselves at the centre of finding a solution to conflicts makes for a longer lasting peace.
Young Stephanie Robertson said she is often called in when two people fall out. She said one important part of helping people become friends again is to listen to both sides of the story.
Her mum agrees that there are now far less complaints from children about bullying at Stephanie's school.
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