WHEN 15-year-old Natashia Jackman was stabbed five times in the head with scissors by a gang in her school canteen in Surrey it was just the latest case of bullying to hit the national headlines.

Last week a 19-year-old in Cornwall was sentenced to two years in prison for killing a friend who had bullied him.

A few days later a 15-year-old in Neath, South Wales, was attacked by a gang of jealous girls at her school after she won two awards for her academic achievements.

On Monday, the Worcester News reported a case of a girl at the city's Blessed Edward Oldcorne School who was bullied on a school trip.

Nobody seems shocked that bullying takes place but opinions are divided about how it should be tackled - and whether measures already in place are effective enough.

Britain's new children's commissioner says every child is affected by a "culture of violence" in schools. He blames the mental and physical abuse that goes on daily on television, at home and in the workplace.

Al Aynsley-Green says: "I have had hundreds of in-depth conversations with children since accepting this post and I can tell you that the one thing every child I have met has been affected by, with no exceptions, is bullying."

In the past schools have been accused of sweeping bullying problems under the carpet but that is no longer the case according to Tony James, the headteacher of Worcester's Elgar Technology College, in Bilford Road.

He says: "Any school that says bullying is not an issue is deluding itself. Bullying occurs in all aspects of life. The question is, how is it dealt with?

"The important point is to share issues as soon as possible because bullying can soon have very dreadful effects."

He says, above all, students need to feel comfortable enough to share their problems.

But he adds a note of caution: "If you have a group of 11 to 16-year-olds who are moving from children to become young adults, who have very complex relationships, it's important to realise they will feel unhappy sometimes, they will feel uncomfortable sometimes and we don't want to automatically label everything bullying."

Allan Foulds, the headteacher of Droitwich High School, is equally upfront.

"There is bullying in every school, I'm very clear about that," he says.

"But handled effectively, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

"Staff must be given the confidence to overcome any problem."

Next week is national anti-bullying week with schools being encouraged to think of innovative ideas to tackle the problem.

Worcester's Nunnery Wood High School, in Spetchley Road, is running a two-week anti-bullying campaign and the school will soon be awarded a special charter because of the steps it is taking.

Deputy head Jill Dillon says: "The things that cause bullying have changed. Young people are called names such as chavs. They are bullied about the music they listen to or the clothes they wear."

The school has handed out a questionnaire to students to find out where around the school bullying takes place, such as toilets and narrow corridors. Like the insults, these change from year to year too.

Children are also given three contacts they can get in touch

with if they have problems and assemblies will address the root causes.

"We have a strict protocol to follow when someone complains about bullying," she says.

"We have to get across that it's not their fault as so often it's about their personal appearance so it's important to raise their self-esteem.

"And bullies are often bullied themselves so we have to look at their self-esteem too.

"Signing up to a charter won't cure bullying but it does send out the message that we're taking it seriously."

But one ex-teacher is not sure the softly-softly approach works.

Tom Kelly, a former maths and science teacher at Elgar Technology College and Blessed Edward Oldcorne lost his job after physically restraining an unruly pupil.

He says: "We have pampered children so much that we now have spoiled kids in the classroom who go beserk.

"At the moment the bully will be spoken to, his parents will be called in and they will be told, 'He is acting inappropriately, blah, blah, blah.'

"Nobody will listen and the kid will do the same thing again.

"I'd say to him, 'Listen here, if you do it again you will be suspended and I will go to the police.

"The trouble is teachers are getting jaded. When the bully does the same thing over and over again and they see nothing is being done about it, the teachers just give up."

Mr Kelly, of Malvern, who has now set up a website about classroom discipline, says: "The ideology in education today is called child-centred but it should be children-centred.

"They want to save lost souls but that ignores the majority who are suffering because these child bullies are infallible, untouchable and all powerful. It's forcing teachers to do an impossible job.

ten ways to beat the bullies

1. Don't ignore bullying. It won't go away on its own and it may even get worse.

2. Tell someone you trust such as a teacher, parent or friend.

3. Remember it's not your fault. No one deserves to be bullied.

4. Keep a record and save any nasty texts or emails that you have been sent.

5. Try to stay away from the bullies or stay with a group when you don't feel safe.

6. Ask your mates to look out for you.

7. Try not to retaliate. You could get into trouble or get hurt.

8. Check you school's anti-bullying policy. This is what your school should do about bullying.

9. Try to act more confidently - even if you don't feel it.

10. Call ChildLine for extra help on 0800 1111.

Have a happy Christmas by staying away from the doc

The stresses and strains of Christmas preparations and accidents will put around 80,000 people in hospital over the Christmas and New Year break, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents predicts. Here's how you can avoid being one of them.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Make shorter, more frequent visits to the shops so you don't have to carry too many heavy loads (below). If a big spending spree is unavoidable, try not to carry heavy shopping too far. Arrange to have heavy goods like TVs and computers delivered to your door.

transporting the tree

Ensure your Christmas tree is not too heavy to handle - if it is, take an extra pair of hands to help. Don't struggle with a tree if you can't fit it safely in the car - order a delivery.

decking the halls

If you have a tall tree or are putting up decorations, use a stepladder to avoid over-reaching. Ensure it is set up properly with no obstructions. Leave setting up outdoor Christmas lights to an expert.

driving home for christmas

Sensible planning can overcome aches and, more importantly, accidents when driving long distances. Take rest breaks at least every two hours. Using other forms of transport, sharing driving and making overnight stops can help.