THE new School Board of the Nicolson Institute is taking a strong lead in stamping out bullying at the school.

The issue has been made one of its priorities for the coming year following the recent highlighting of the bullying problem in the Gazette.

A Board newsletter just issued spotlights the bullying and calls on teachers and parents to work together to stop the victimisation.

Recent measures taken by the school appear to be obtaining some results in tackling bullying. The number of reported incidents of bullying has fallen since the introduction last term of a mentor scheme where sixth year pupils befriend first and second year pupils. Guidance lessons for all first to third year pupil now also include monthly private questioning of pupils about bullying.

But, as new Board chairman, Mr Andrew Mackenzie points out, bullying is a difficult thing to measure as the victims are often too frightened to complain in case it makes their situation worse.

The aim of the offensive on bullying is to produce an atmosphere in which bullying will be recognised and tackled, said Mr Mackenzie.

He added that bullying is not just an obstacle at the Nicolson but affects other schools as well.

In their newsletter, the Nicolson School Board state that parents, pupils and staff are entitled to expect the school day to be bully-free. The Board would not be satisfied until bullying is no longer a "worrying aspect of life for all in the school."

They go on: "We will continue to help the school introduce measures which make it less likely for bullying to happen at all, rather than just do something about it afterwards.

"A step forward has been taken and the Board is grateful to everyone for their boldness in trying new methods."

The newsletter also contains two Scottish Office Education Department leaflets on bullying and encouragement for parents to make their views known to the Board on the problem at the Nicolson.

A senior Nicolson Institute pupil told the Gazette bullying was confined to the younger pupils and as far as he was aware was not widespread or physical.

The Board have set out goals they hope to fulfil by July and these are the production by the school of a coherent School Development Plan, lobbying of the Council for a "significant increase" in resources for Special Needs Education, and improvements to the general school environment.

The plan of action for the coming year has been framed using the results of a recent questionnaire of parents. One of the findings was that 102 respondents felt pupils are generally well behaved outwith the classroom. Forty respondents disagreed.

Asked if teachers dealt effectively with bad behaviour 89 parents agreed and 40 disagreed.

Original article Stornoway Gazette Jan 08 1997.