Anti bullying guidance developed by young people in Highland launched today

left to right: Bernadette Cairns, Head of Additional Support Needs (Highland Council); Elizabeth Blogg, Misty Isle Youth Forum (Portree High School); Julia Coe, Misty Isle Youth Forum (Portree High School); Kirsty Baird, Health Development Officer (Highland Council)

Today (Thursday 14 June) at the High Life Highland, Highland Youth Parliament (HYP) Annual Conference, The Highland Council launched their new ‘Positive Relationships and Bullying Prevention Policy and Guidance’. This is the first Care and Learning Policy which has been developed by young people across Highland from initial consultation through to its launch.   

The previous bullying prevention guidance was due for review in 2017. Following a discussion between Bernadette Cairns (Head of Additional Support Needs) and members of the Misty Isle Youth Forum, where young people identified the previous policy no longer reflected the landscape across Highland schools, it was announced at the HYP conference in June 2017 that the policy would be redeveloped by young people across Highland, launching at the conference in June 2018. During the 2017/2018 academic session, young people from the Misty Isle Youth Forum consulted with young people from across Highland to create the new policy and guidance which was launched today. 

The new guidance is available on www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/19358/anti_bullying_-_guidance_for_schools