A FATHER was so disturbed by the plight of his daughter who was bullied at school that he has helped devise a new training programme for headteachers.

Experienced health and safety consultant, Lyndon Shearman, who works for a Kidderminster company, helped devise the one-day course after his daughter, Bethany, was bullied to such an extent that she suffered from depression and had to be taken out of high school.

He was so shocked by the doctor's diagnosis and her experience that he was determined to do something to prevent other children suffering the same fate.

After approaching his employers, Kidderminster and District Training Company - KDTC - it was agreed that, together with the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health - IOSH - a course would be set up to offer free health and safety training to headteachers.

Mr Shearman said: "I was particularly concerned after my daughter's experience and, while serving as a school governor some time back, I also started to have doubts about health and safety issues in some schools.

"Some headteachers don't receive adequate training in health and safety, resulting in a "bonkers conkers" approach, where schools are frightened to do anything new for fear of being sued. This does nothing to help children learn.

"It boils down to the way we run an organisation and the way we do things. This course will offer practical advice and enable teachers to share good health and safety practice in their own schools and others will be able to follow their example."

The one-day course will be held at two different venues later this year.

One course will be held at KDTC's learning zone near Kidderminster and another at IOSH's headquarters at Wigston near Leicester. The course will be held in April and headteachers completing the course will receive the IOSH Safety for Senior Executives certificate, which carries national recognition.

Mr Shearman, of Wolverhampton, added: "Learning should be an exciting and stimulating experience, where risks are managed - not avoided - and kids can learn without the awful experience that Beth went through.

"If we at KDTC and IOSH can do just a little to help improve the situation, our efforts will be worthwhile."

To register an interest in the course, call 01562 754416.