Bullying tackled in town schools

Efforts to reduce bullying in Swindon's schools are underway after 41% of children surveyed by Ofsted claimed they had been bullied in the last year.

The 2008 Ofsted "TellUs" survey also found that 29% of pupils worried about being bullied and that 24% had been bullied travelling to or from school.

Representatives from schools, youth groups, the council and police are now working together to tackle the problem.

The group met on Monday as part of the borough council's Bullying Review.

'Massive impact'

One 14-year-old pupil who goes to school in Wootton Bassett, said: "It was one girl in particular but she got all of her friends involved and told them lies.

"I think they should just try to find something for the bullies to do so it doesn't give them any time to get together with their friends to do anything - take away their free time."

Barbara Parry of Swindon Borough Council said she had been "saddened to hear about the massive impact that bullying can have on the lives of children and young people both now and into adulthood".

She added: "The forum aims to bring all organisations together who have the power to influence change for our children to do even more to raise awareness of this issue and take positive action to beat bullying."