THE NEW school term will see a frontline attack on the problem of bullying being spearheaded by schools in Basingstoke.

Harriet Costello, Cranbourne and Fort Hill Community schools will be taking the lead in the initiative and The Vyne Community School will also play a part.

Questionnaires were sent to Basingstoke's secondary schools at the end of term as the first step in devising an anti-bullying programme called Safe at School.

The project aims to develop strategies to prevent bullying and to help schools implement them.

The initiative - which has been welcomed by the local education authority - will run over a three-year period, during which time there will be questionnaires and surveys as well as work within schools and ongoing analysis.

Keith Fry, chairman of the initiative and headteacher at Fort Hill, said: "Bullying is a problem that pervades all areas of society, be it factory, office block or school.

"If we can isolate and disseminate strategies that really work in tackling this type of behaviour, then it follows that the beneficial outcomes will transmit themselves through to the adult workplace.

"All schools suffer with some form of bullying and we wanted to show that in Basingstoke we do not take it lightly, but are actively seeking solutions."

No-one knows the extent of bullying in schools in the area, and Mr Fry explained the questionnaire was designed to illustrate that and also establish what forms it can take.

Once this information is collected and analysed, a variety of anti-bullying strategies can be put in place. The strategies, which have yet to be decided, will then be evaluated and there will be further surveys.

The initiative is a facet of the Learning Zone - a partnership uniting the area's schools and local community with the borough and county councils.

The partnership was set up to ensure local services operate in a co-ordinated way and is backed by local councillors and officers from the two authorities.

Andrew Seber, Hampshire's education officer, said the authority was committed to tackling the problem of bullying and was pleased to provide support for the project.

"In comparative terms, bullying in local schools is already tackled well, but it is typical of these schools to take seriously any problem which affects the children and to think ahead," he said.

Cllr Don Allen, who represents Kingsclere and Tadley on the Hampshire authority and is chairman of the county's education committee, said: "It is wonderful to see people working together in an attempt to make everyone aware of the need to reduce bullying at all schools everywhere.

"We are delighted to be involved."