The Respectme Reward acknowledges schools and youth organisations in Scotland that have effectively tackled bullying by creating a safe and respectful environment for children and young people. St Columba’s is the first independent school in Scotland and one of only 26 schools to have achieved this accolade.

Established in 2007, Respectme is an Anti-Bullying Service wholly funded by the Scottish Government. Their vision is for a respecting, just, equal and inclusive Scotland, in which all children and young people can live free from bullying and harassment.

The Respectme Reward specifically showcases schools actively creating a culture of respect and kindness, where there is a greater awareness of bullying, its negative impacts and how to get support.

A Five-stage Assessment

To achieve the award, St Columba’s completed a rigorous five-stage assessment into our anti-bullying strategy with evidence of its impact. The process required us to:

• Demonstrate that our anti-bullying work has substance and can withstand scrutiny
• Show that the children and young people in our care are having their rights upheld and respected, and that they feel safe
• Prove that our interventions have made a difference.

A key component of the award submission was gathering feedback on our anti-bullying practices from our staff, parents/guardians and pupils. This feedback provided valuable evidence of our initiatives and was reviewed by Respectme as part of the assessment process. We are sincerely grateful to everyone in our school community who completed the survey and shared their insights, helping to strengthen our approach and ultimately contributing to the achievement of this significant reward.

Ms Fulton, Depute Rector (Pastoral) stated, “This reward is recognition of the strides we have taken in our anti-bullying strategy, and the strength of our wider Pastoral Care approach within the school over the last few years. It has been a team effort, with the whole school embracing a culture that encourages positive relationships, promotes respect for each other, celebrates our differences and values individuals.

“We are incredibly proud of what we have collectively achieved and are committed to our anti-bullying ambitions to create a safe, inclusive and kind environment where our pupils are able to reach their full potential.”