School bullying issue raised at highest level following Lochaber cases

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant raised the question of bullying outside of school grounds at last week's FMQs following recent incidents in Fort William.

 

Mrs Grant told First Minister for Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, that school bullying does not only happen within school and that it also takes place outside and on the way to school.

 

"This causes problems for schools as they cannot be responsible for what happens to pupils off school grounds," she added.

 

She then asked the First Minister what steps her government and Police Scotland are taking to protect children from school bullying when it takes place off school grounds and what actions are being taken to hold bullies to account.

 

This comes after reports of incidents in Lochaber where bullies attacked peers outside school grounds. In some cases, these attacks were filmed and posted online for other school pupils to see.

 

The First Minister agreed with Mrs Grant and said she gets to the “heart of a societal problem”.

 

She then said there is a collective responsibility to tackling bullying off school grounds from Police Scotland and from national and local governments and ended by saying that we all have a part to play in ensuring that children are protected and safeguarded.

 

Speaking after FMQs Rhoda Grant MSP said: “The First Minister is correct in stating that this is a societal problem and it is one that needs to be addressed.

 

“Children now face bullies on and off school grounds.

 

“Whether that be outside school, on the way to school or on social media.

 

“These attacks are pre-planned in that they are recorded from before the start of the attack yet local authorities and police seem unable to provide solutions, leaving child victims without protection.”