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• 2005
• June
• • £30,000 playground for Yerbury pupils
  • Anti-Bullying Massif win prestigious award
  • Celebrating those who aim higher
  • Children's Preventative and Early Intervention Consultation
  • Conference to promote partnership with parents
  • Durham Rd adult learning centre to move to Islington Arts & Media School
  • Education Week events 27 June - 2 July
  • GCSE students celebrate with the FA cup
  • Have your say on the future of services for children in Islington
  • Islington schools making poverty history
  • Malaysian Education Directors visit Islington for example of best practice
  • Mount Carmel to open £1 million technology block
  • Primary school pupils show their support for London's 2012 bid
  • Pupils bring their dads to school
  • Six Islington schools gain Arts Council awards
  • Teacher Support Network welcomes donation from Islington for teacher helpline
  • Yerbury win through to final of 'University Challenge'

Anti-Bullying Massif win prestigious award

Central Foundation School for Boys’ Anti-Bullying Massif (ABM) has been awarded a Diana, Princess of Wales Anti-Bullying Award in recognition of their determination to make a difference and combat bullying in their school. The Diana, Princess of Wales Anti-Bullying Award is given to young people who have made an outstanding contribution to tackling bullying in their schools or communities. The Central Foundation ABM will receive a special certificate to mark their achievement on July 7th 2005 at Lough Road.

Central Foundation has been working in partnership with CEA@Islington’s Behaviour Support Service on a long-term anti-bullying scheme. With the support of Headteacher Judith Fortune, a group of students were encouraged to receive professional training in peer mediation to help promote a more positive peer culture in school.

The group selected their own name 'The Anti-Bullying Massif.' The name came from the boys' own enthusiasm and feelings that a student-centred programme would have a 'massive' effect helping other students in school. The ABM is comprised of nine Year 10 students', who represent the ethnically diverse background of the student body.

Lead learning mentor at Central Foundation, Natasha Arpino, and behaviour support teacher, Gail Orenstein, provided an intensive four-month training package to the students. The training programme had two phases: the first phase comprised of techniques and strategies in problem solving and mentoring methods; the second phase was the implementation and monitoring of the project. This is where the boys are at now, implementing their programme as mentors.

When they completed the training in July 2004 a ceremony was held at Lough Road. They received certificates, which entitled them to move on to become mentors at the school.

This year they have set up a drop-in centre one day a week to mentor Year 7 and 8 students. At the centre, younger students can talk confidentially to a mentor about any difficult issues they may be facing and the mentor will endeavour to provide guidance.

Jarrell Anthony, Member of the ABM said: 'It is an honour to have received this nomination. We have all worked very hard as a team on ABM and it is very exciting to be recognised for our work. We made a commitment 2 years ago to our work as mentors and now we see it is having a positive impact on our school and the kids that come to see us.'

Gail Orenstein, Behaviour Support Service, CEA@Islington said: ‘The 'Anti Bullying Massif' is a very articulate, dynamic group of students who are determined to make a change at the school. They have presented at many different venues around London speaking proudly about their training programme. I am so pleased that their hard work and determination to combat bullying has been recognised with the presentation of this prestigious award.’

For more information, please contact CEA@Islington's Communications Department: