SCHOOLS are giving a good response to an accreditation scheme launched by County Durham's pioneering anti-bullying service.

The scheme, which has the backing of ChildLine - the free 24-hour helpline for children and young people - will enable schools to offer tangible evidence of their determination to tackle the problem.

Service co-ordinator Val McFarlane said: "So far, we have got all the secondary schools and about ten primary schools - there are 246 across the county - and three of the special schools.

The first schools to apply were Moorside Comprehensive School, Consett, Ebchester Primary School, near Consett, and The Meadows Special School, Spennymoor.

"We are very pleased with the response so far, especially from the secondary schools, and we would love to get a 100 per cent take-up. That would fantastic.

"I think it is something that parents will start to consider when they are looking at schools for the children, just as they look at exam results.''

Under the accreditation scheme, schools will have to show they take bullying seriously and have effective policies and practices to deal with it. The criteria for accreditation includes having an anti-bullying group, annually reviewing anti-bullying policies and setting up a peer support scheme.

The service is inviting children to design a logo.