From 12th – 16th November Northgate supported National Anti-Bullying week, a chance to reflect and think about how we can help prevent bullying and support those being bullied. The theme for this year was #ChooseRespect, which incidentally is a theme we have looked at on many occasions as one of Northgate’s 5Rs. The Anti-Bullying Ambassador team went into assemblies the week before Anti-Bullying week to highlight what bullying is, what the Ambassadors do and how we can help and support each other. Mrs Holt who heads up the Anti-Bullying Ambassador team put together some resources for use in PART lesson. They looked at:
- The definition of bullying
- What respect means to us, respect being defined as ‘having due regard for (someone’s feelings, wishes, or rights)’
- Why it’s important for people to show respect and how it makes you feel to be respected and respectful
- Being able to respectfully disagree with someone, the fact that we won’t always agree with everyone’s opinion and there is a way we can respectfully put this across
- Tips for how to respectfully disagree
- What an upstander and bystander is – An upstander is someone who recognises when something is wrong and acts to make it right. When an upstander sees or hears about someone being bullied, they speak up and do their best to help, protect and support the person. A bystander is someone who sees or knows about bullying or other forms of violence that is happening to someone else, but takes no action to address it or report it.
- Top 10 tips for being an upstander.
- Finally students were encouraged to write a pledge to be an upstander or write a pledge to show more respect. These pledges will go together to create Northgate’s ‘Wall of Respect’.

Top 10 Tips for being an Upstander rather than a Bystander
One of the main messages to come out of National Anti-Bullying Week, as well as choosing respect, was Stop, Speak, Support. This related to cyber bulling and is 3 simple steps for young people who witness cyberbullying to follow. It aims to empower us to stop cyberbullying, by speaking out and seeking support. Videos and images were shown on our Twitter and Facebook pages offering advice, support and tips.
A big thank you to Mrs Holt and the Anti-Bullying Ambassador team. They will be meeting with Mr Mason shortly to review Northgate’s Anti-Bullying policy and make any suggestions for changes.
Below you can see a number of the videos and images we shared with students and parents as well as Northgate’s ‘Wall of Respect’.