Below is the transcript of Pippa L and Antara R’s speech which they delivered at Senior School Assembly to mark the start of Anti-Bullying Week.
Today marks the start of St Columba’s Anti-Bullying Week, with this year’s theme being “Power for Good”. That phrase might sound simple, but it carries an important message: every single one of us has influence through our words, our actions, and even our silence. And that influence can be used to harm, or to help.
Bullying is something that affects every school in some way. The Anti-Bullying Alliance UK revealed that an alarming 6% of all young people experience bullying every single day. It is not always big and dramatic. Often, it’s the quiet, everyday things like comments said as a joke, group chats that exclude someone, rumours whispered in corridors, or choosing to ignore someone who needs support. Whether it’s loud or subtle, direct or online, the impact of bullying can be serious and long-lasting.
Just one moment, or even a single sentence, can affect every aspect of someone’s life. And in a small school like ours, where year groups are small and everyone knows each other, these things can spread very quickly. Exclusion, rumours, or unkind comments travel fast, and their impact can last. 24% of children who experience frequent bullying are often kept off school by their parents because of safety risks.
So, what can we do to combat this? Awareness is the first step in tackling bullying. We must acknowledge if these small, seemingly harmless actions go unnoticed or unchallenged. Because if they do, there is nothing to stop them from growing, spreading, and becoming much more damaging. When people are hurt and no one notices or speaks up, the message being sent is that their feelings aren’t important. Speaking up when you see something wrong is not always easy, but it is strongest way to combat bullying.
Most people in school are not bullies, and most are not targets, but everyone is a witness at some point. By now, you will all know the word bystander: someone who sees hurtful behaviour but doesn’t do anything. Not joining in doesn’t make you a bad person, people often freeze, panic, or simply don’t know what to say in these situations. But doing nothing still gives bullies power. Silence gives space for harm to continue.
What you may not know is the word “Upstander”. An upstander is someone who chooses to actively take steps to support fairness and respect, often intervening to assist those in need. You don’t have to deliver a long speech or get into a confrontation to make a difference. Taking a small simple step can completely shift a situation and help someone. You could report the situation to a trusted individual, like a teacher, Head of House or a sixth year. Speaking up for someone is not “getting them into trouble” or “snitching”, it is protecting them when they need it most. That is the true meaning of “power for good”, recognising that your choices matter and that they can make someone else’s life even just a little bit better.
Throughout this week, we have a full schedule to help us learn more about different forms of bullying and how to stand up against them:
Tuesday will be a focus on anti-racism. Wednesday will be a focus on homophobia. Thursday will be a focus on cyber-bullying.
There will be a kindness stall running on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, which will give you the opportunity to write a kind message to a teacher or pupil. The stall has no cost and is welcome to everyone. There is another stall, where you can write positive messages, which will build up and create a big rainbow paper chain.
There will also be PowerPoints shared around form classes, and each year group will have the opportunity to sign a brand-new pride flag as a visible pledge to show your support.
Finally, Friday will be this year’s Odd Tie Day – St Columba’s version of Odd Socks Day. Odd Socks Day was started in 2017 by the Anti-Bullying Alliance and TV presenter Andy Day and his band Andy and the Odd Socks. The idea is simple – wear something mismatched to show that everyone is different and that those differences should be celebrated. So, we want to see your best odd ties. Additionally, expect a visit from pupils who will give a short presentation in form on Friday about the history and importance of Odd Tie Day and make sure to keep your eyes out for the screens around the school to see what SVI have put together.
As we progress through this week, remember that awareness is not just about learning facts, it is about understanding the impact we have on each other. It is about realising the power behind kindness, inclusion and using your voice. Every single one of us has the ability to use our power for good. So, let’s make this week more than an event, let’s make it a core reminder that even the smallest actions can have the biggest impact.
