Dumbarton school pupils win award for anti-bullying stance

Nov 28 2008 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

A GROUP of Dumbarton school pupils have won a top award for their stance on bullying.

The S3 to S6 students at Our Lady and St Patrick’s High earned top prize in the Scottish Anti Bullying Week Competition.

The youngsters travelled to Edinburgh to receive their prize from Schools and Skills Minister Maureen Watt.

Teachers Fiona McInnes and Lynne Seagrave helped set up the project, which began with a residential leadership programme in Luss for S5 and S6 pupils who had prior experience of making short films and editing. This led to the establishment of a small committee of upper school pupils to mentor, advise and oversee other students.

The programme was open to pupils aged 16 and under and the response was so good a team of S3 to S6 students soon began working together and encouraging one another in writing, directing, acting, dancing, filming and editing, and building transferable skills and self-esteem.

Ms McInnes said: “For the competition, our pupils decided to create a short play which included dance. The story they came up with highlights how the act of bullying may be perceived from both sides, but ultimately shows how harrowing and devastating it is for the person being bullied. The play questions morals and asks people to think about how their actions can affect others.

“We are extremely proud of the level of commitment and professionalism with which the pupils have approached this project. The enthusiasm and energy which the boys and girls brought to the play is clear from their performances and the hours which they put in both during and after the school day.

“Bullying is an issue which is, unfortunately, a nationwide problem and our pupils were keen to create something which would raise awareness of the subject.”

The prizewinning team have decided to build on the project by developing support materials aimed at S1. They hope to speak at S1 assemblies and engage pupils in related projects throughout the school.

The pupils involved in the project were Amanda Sutherland, Aaron Murphy and Bobbie Mills (S3), Andrew Grace (S4, Claire Munro, Jenna Gilliland and Frances Taylor (S5) and Amy Lyons, Jonathan Gareze, Craig Morrison, Jennifer Sweeney, Rachael Smith, Victoria Reilly, Siobhan Brannigan, Monica Slaven and Megahn Johnstone (S6).