<p>IMMEDIATE</p><p>10 DECEMBER 2009</p><p>BULLYING</p><p>Commenting on the Government’s latest guidance on bullying, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said; </p><p>“Bullying in all its pernicious forms can destroy young people’s self-confidence and happiness and tragically, in extreme cases, their lives. Tackling bullying must be a top priority for all schools. </p><p>“While I recognise that requiring the reporting of bullying as a duty makes sense, accompanying this duty must be the message from Government that schools have the time and space to tackle the root causes of bullying and pupils’ sense of injustice. </p><p>“I particularly welcome the fact that sexual bullying, a particularly pernicious form of bullying, has been recognised as a key issue. We have consistently pressed the Government, since the publication of our own research on this issue, to offer schools specific guidance on this area.”</p><p>END PR9809</p><p>For further details contact Caroline Cowie 0207 380 4707/ 07879480061</p>