SADDLEWORTH SCHOOL pupils are standing up and speaking out against bullying – and will be taking their work to a national level next year.
Year 7 pupils Libby Collard and Emily Brierley have been asked to be on the anti-bulling committee with pupils from across the country to help address the issue in schools.
The invitation came after Libby wrote into the BBC about anti-bullying and was invited to London with one friend to interview Nick Gibb, Minister of State at the Department for Education.
She said: “We asked his opinion on bullying and what the government is doing to stop it. It was very inspirational.”
Emily added: “Now he has invited me, Libby, two more pupils and our teacher Miss Sunderland to be on an anti-bullying committee with other pupils in the new year.”
Meanwhile, pupils took part in a series of anti-bullying sessions at Saddleworth School to learn about the importance of equality and tolerance.
A team of Year 7 and 8 students found their voices as they delivered assemblies to around 270 pupils from every year group to encourage people to stand up to and report bullying.
One of the team, Niamh Simpson, explained: “We looked at celebrities who were bullied and how they have overcome it to have successful careers, like Emma Watson and Rihanna.
“We read out a poem and held up cards with words on, like confidence, to create visual metaphors.
“Other pupils said this was a great idea and gave them something to look at and think about while we were talking.”
Meanwhile, Year 11 prefects planned and delivered a lesson to teach Year 7 pupils about what they do as anti-bullying ambassadors for the school and how they can help students.
Pupils also listened to a talk about e-safety and cyber bullying from Colette Morris from Oldham Council and watched a performance by Hope Theatre company about homophobia.
They took part in workshops run by local charity People First to learn about the day-to-day challenges faced by people with both physical and learning difficulties.
And 16 students from New Bridge School, which caters for children with a range of learning disabilities and additional needs, put on inclusive workshops at Saddleworth School.
The activities saw pupils from both schools join together to play goal ball, boccia, wheelchair basketball and new-age curling.
Alison, a staff member from New Bridge School, said: I think it is great we can have everyone join in and show off the different activities we can do.
“Things like the recent Paralympics have really helped raise the profile of disability sports and acceptance of people with disabilities and additional needs.”
Saddleworth School headmaster Matthew Milburn added: “It is important pupils can recognise when they or their friends are being bullied and that they feel they can speak up about it.
“It is important as a school that we recognise disabilities and additional needs and that they are something to be celebrated.
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