This Anti-Bullying Week, Caroline Dinenage MP, will present the first ever Power for Good Award to two incredible school workers at a Parliamentary Reception at Speaker’s House on Wednesday evening.
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Early Years at the Department for Education will give Mr Pittaway from Blue Coat Church of England Academy in Walsall and Mrs Johnson from Orton Wistow Primary School in Peterborough the accolade.
The award, launched by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) to mark Anti-bullying Week, is designed to recognise teachers and school staff that that go beyond the call of duty to help children with issues such as bullying, relationships, family life and mental health.
Nominations flooded in from children across the country bearing witness to the many teachers that take action against bullying and care deeply for the wider needs of their pupils. One student that nominated Mr Pittaway said:
“I want to nominate Mr Pittaway because I feel he has supported me in ways that help me forget about bad things and stop me from getting in trouble. For example he has removed me from situations such as fights and arguments that could have got me in deep trouble. He has spent time helping me by explaining the dangers and consequences of my actions. When I am angry or upset Mr Pittaway makes me laugh and helps me forget whatever makes me angry….Mr Pittaway is a great role model who never judges me for who I am and is always there for me in good and bad situations.”
Jackie Johnson was nominated by an entire year three class, as well as a number of other pupils in the school, one year six student said
“Mrs Johnson goes above and beyond; she helps with my friendship issues and supports me with everything I do. I know I can trust her; I would not be who or where I am at the moment without her”’
Both the school staff demonstrated many of the attributes that the pupils said were important, these included knowing their names, listening to them, smiling at them, not shouting and showing they still care even if they’re having a bad day themselves. The winners will be joined at the Reception by the school Head Teachers and some of the pupils that made the nominations.
Caroline Dinenage MP said:
“It is an honour to present the Power for Good award and to acknowledge the incredible work of schools to support pupils with issues such as bullying. This government is clear that we take the issue of bullying extremely seriously. To support this work we have dedicated £1.8 million pounds over the next two years for programme work across the country that supports schools in tackling bullying. This is not an issue that goes away by saying ‘we have no bullying here’. We need all schools to be vigilant, to listen to their pupils, and to work with pupils and parents to stop it.”
The theme of this year’s Anti-Bullying Week, coordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance is ‘Power for Good’ and throughout the week they are calling on teachers, children and parents to use their power for good to stop bullying. The week is sponsored by SafeToNet and the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, with support from Internet Matters.
Georgie Pursey, Co Founder of SafeToNet said
“It is wonderful to see these teachers recognised. We know what a positive influence teachers can have on their students and are thrilled to hear they are teaching that bullying in any form is unacceptable. We are pleased to get behind this year’s Power for Good campaign and recognise we all have our part to play: through the work of SafeToNet we want to empower children and parents to take action against bullying,”
Ben Cohen, founder of the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation
“These awards send such a powerful message that we all need to take bullying seriously and do what we can to take action, we believe everyone has a role to play. We fully support the Power for Good campaign and encourage everyone to stand up against bullying. If you witness any form of bullying – tell someone you trust. It may be frightening, but the bullying will just continue if we ignore it.”
Anti-Bullying Week each year shines a spotlight on the issue of bullying, and the winners of the Power for Good Award are examples of how school staff can and do take positive action to stop bullying. The Anti-Bullying Alliance call on all schools to follow their lead.
Lauren Seager-Smith, National Coordinator of ABA said:
“We know there are many schools that despite the challenge of meeting academic targets continue to prioritise the wellbeing of their pupils. We were overwhelmed by how many entries we received, over 100 students or classes got in contact to tell us about an inspirational teacher. We want there to be an acknowledgment that bullying can happen anywhere, and for all school staff to be trained and supported to work with pupils and parents to tackle the issue.”
Further information
The Anti-Bullying Alliance
The Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) is a unique coalition of organisations and individuals, who work together to reduce bullying and create safer environments in which children and young people can live, grow, play and learn. ABA is hosted by the National Children's Bureau. For more information visit www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
Anti-Bullying Week 2016
Anti-Bullying Week is coordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, hosted by National Children's Bureau and runs from 14th-18th November 2016. For more information on how you can get involved in Anti-Bullying Week 2016 visit: www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk #antibullyingweek and/or #powerforgood @ABAonline
About the Power for Good Award
The Power for Good award was launched this year, with children and young people from across England invited to nominate teachers and school staff that go beyond the call of duty to support them with issues including bullying, family life, relationships and mental health. The judging panel included Anti-Bullying Week sponsors SafeToNet as well as representatives from YoungNCB.
About SafetoNet
SafeToNet™ is a behavioural analytics business that focuses on cyber security at a human level. Using big data and behavioural patterning, it has developed a suite of services that safeguard all users from the increasing personal risks that exist in cyber space, from Cyber Bullying to Grooming and Radicalisation, all in real time. For more information visit www.safetonet.com
About Internet Matters
Internet Matters (internetmatters.org) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation which aims to help parents keep their children safe online. It was founded by the UK’s four major broadband providers; BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media, with the BBC and Google joining them as partners in 2016.