LVS Ascot Takes Lead Role In National Anti-Bullying Campaign
24 Oct 2016
LVS Ascot took a lead role amongst Home Counties schools on Tuesday 27th September as a host school in a national campaign to prevent bullying in schools and communities. With pastoral care being a key element of life at LVS Ascot, the independent all-ability school was the ideal venue to welcome over 100 pupils from eight schools across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and Hertfordshire as part of the Diana Award Anti-Bullying Training.
WATCH: You can see Lead Anti-Bullying Campaigner Paul Hanmore talking to LVS Ascot pupils Maisie and Emily about what they learned during the training here.
The training day brought together young people from primary and secondary schools across the south east to be trained as Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, including the Oratory Prep School in Reading, Eden Girls School in Slough, Garth Hill College in Bracknell as well as visiting schools from Amersham, Kingston, Woking and Hatfield. The pupils creatively explored and understood the issue of bullying, networked with their peers, exchanged ideas and shared good practice. They gained practical ideas and received top tips on how to stop bullying, and left as anti-bullying ambassadors with an action plan aimed at helping them to prevent bullying and ensure everyone feels safe and happy in their school.
LVS Ascot Deputy Head Pastoral Carl Bingham said: “We are proud to be a host school for the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors Programme. Pastoral care is an extremely important part of LVS Ascot life, ensuring every pupil’s personal development is nurtured. It has been a privilege to share that philosophy and help the Diana Award team extend their effective anti-bullying programme to many other schools in the area.”
All 870 pupils at all-through school LVS Ascot, from 4 years old to 18, are placed in a School House with a Tutor Group in senior school or class teacher in the Junior School who monitors their wellbeing, offers support, help and advice as well as overseeing their academic performance. Today’s training allowed 20 of those students to become trained ambassadors for the school and take forward what they have learned to become an integral part of the school’s pastoral care.
Alex Holmes, Head of Anti-Bullying Campaign for The Diana Award said: “As a former victim of bullying I know how isolated and unhappy a young person can feel when they are being targeted and I am passionate about helping these people. The Anti-Bullying Ambassadors programme gives young people the confidence to stand together against bullies and support one another. We give Ambassadors the skills and tools to successfully spread the message – bullying will not be tolerated.”
Photo: Pupils and teachers from LVS Ascot with the Diana Award anti-bullying campaigners