Students and staff at West Exe School are delighted to share that it has become the first school in Devon to be awarded the prestigious Gold award quality mark for their work on anti-bullying.

The Exeter school received the Gold award from the Anti-Bullying Quality Mark UK (ABQM-UK), a national scheme which endorses how good schools are at preventing bullying. 

West Exe School, which is part of the Ted Wragg Trust, has a clear Anti-Bullying Strategy and staff at West Exe have been sharing best practice and advice about this with partner schools across the trust.

Student anti-bullying ambassadors at the school have also received accredited Diana Award training so that they are prepared and equipped with the skills they need to support students experiencing friendship difficulties.  Staff anti-bullying champions also meet with students on a regular basis to ensure student voices are listened to and that areas raised as a concern are reviewed, revised and developed to minimise future issues.

Ofsted inspectors also noted in their last report that at West Exe Pupils’ mental health and wellbeing is a priority and pupils know how to stay safe and keep safe online.

The ABQM-UK award challenges schools to demonstrate their effectiveness in anti-bullying and the prevention of harassment. School communities that gain the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards can show that:

• Children and young people come to school without the fear of being bullied or harassed
• Staff members respond to all aspects of bullying behaviour and harassment with confidence
• Families are confident that they know who to approach about bullying and harassment and that it will be dealt with efficiently and effectively

Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

"I am so proud of all of our staff and students, and especially our anti-bullying ambassadors, for achieving this Gold Award.  It is a testament to how hard they all work to ensure the school environment is a caring one where every child can thrive.  Our ‘kindness elective’ has seen our students visiting local primary schools to deliver anti-bullying strategies and training, ensuring that our wider community are able to benefit too. ”

Ole C, Year 8 student at West Exe School said:

'I chose to become an antibullying ambassador because I wanted to help people who are struggling with being bullied. My main goal as an antibullying ambassador is to help people who feel like they are alone and to stop people from being targeted.'

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

“I am so proud of the student ambassadors, staff and students at West Exe who have achieved this.  The work the West Exe School community has done regarding their anti bullying strategy has been exemplary and I am so pleased that this has been recognised through the Gold Award.  At the Ted Wragg Trust we believe that every child should come to school feeling safe and happy and all our schools work hard to make sure this is the case.”