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Jean Donovan with the factsheet.

TWO south Wiltshire companies have put themselves at the forefront of a drive to stamp out bullying in schools or via computers.

Wallgate of Wilton has published a factsheet to help schools reduce bullying and anti-social behaviour in toilets.

And ITSE of Broad Chalke is offering a service to help schools, colleges and businesses protect themselves from inappropriate use of its IT systems.

IT services company ITSE's move follows the seminar on cyber bullying it organised and led in Salisbury last year.

Boss Barry Goodridge said the new installation gave organisations "freedom for their staff to use their computers and the Internet responsibly, while capturing any misuse or unacceptable behaviour".

The installation checks for unacceptable words and phrases displayed on screen.

Internet chat rooms and e-mail, and documents like Word are covered.

A record is taken of incidents such as swearing, bullying or racist language, and whether a banned or unsuitable website has been accessed.

Violations can be reviewed at any time from any PC, enabling action to be taken, whether supporting a victim of bullying, or confronting someone who has used a computer inappropriately.

Before they can log on to a computer, students or staff must agree to a code of conduct, setting guidelines on what is appropriate behaviour.

Mr Goodridge said: "This tool allows organisations to deal with this issue head-on and ensure staff use their systems appropriately, and staff or pupils are protected from cyber bullies and cyber stalkers."

Wallgate has been designing and making sanitaryware for 30 years and has installed anti-vandal toilets in dozens of schools and colleges.

It devised its factsheet to help teachers and governors improve pupil safety by "designing out bullying" in school toilets. The factsheet contains 28 tips, including arranging toilets in small blocks, nearer to classrooms and staff rooms to improve supervision and make them more visible.

Jean Donovan, Wallgate's business development executive, said: "Bullying and anti-social behaviour in toilets continues to cause headaches for pupils, parents, teachers and governors.

"We believe there is a lot more which could be done to design out' bullying and vandalism.

"This free factsheet is designed to bring together the specialist knowledge which we have developed and help schools make the right decisions when planning new toilets and washrooms."

The factsheet, entitled Reducing The Impact Of Bullying And Anti-social Behaviour In School Toilets And Washrooms, can be obtained by e-mailing schooltoilets@wallgate.com.

10:16am Thursday 10th April 2008

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