Castlebridge National School, Castlebridge, Co. Wexford was awarded €2,000 to collaborate with Curracloe National School to establish a community of practice for an anti-bullying policy review. This project aims to develop whole school community understanding of a whole education approach to bullying prevention in the Irish school setting (UNESCO World Anti-Bullying Forum 2021).
School's reflection
As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive school environment, Castlebridge NS was proud to collaborate with Curracloe NS on a joint initiative promoting the Bí Cineálta anti-bullying message. This collaborative project brought our schools together to strengthen our education and prevention strategies around bullying. Staff from both schools worked closely, sharing best practices and resources to enhance our collective approach to supporting pupils and promoting kindness and respect.
An integral aspect of the project was gathering data from key stakeholders, including pupils, parents, and staff. This evidence-based approach helped to shape our focus and revealed that cyberbullying was a particular concern among parents and staff in both school communities. In response, we engaged Zeeko, an expert organisation in digital wellbeing, to deliver cyber safety talks tailored for pupils and parents in both schools. These sessions were well received and provided practical guidance on navigating the online world safely and respectfully.
This project has strengthened the ties between our schools, improved our shared knowledge, and reinforced the importance of a united, proactive stance against bullying. We remain committed to continuing this vital work and ensuring all our pupils feel safe, supported, and empowered to be kind.
Many thanks to the Teaching Council for their support in this, we are very grateful.
