HEAD teachers, youth workers and play scheme leaders are getting together to free Hertfordshire's schools from bullies.

The county is holding two major anti-bullying conferences on Thursday, February 3, and Thursday, February 10, as part of Hertfordshire County Council's Anti-bullying Initiative.

The conferences, called What we can do to prevent bullying, are aimed at primary and secondary school staff and all professionals working with young people.

Both will take place at the Wheathampstead Development Centre from 9am to 3.30pm.

Amber Carroll, Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) Adviser, said: "It's the most comprehensive anti-bullying programme we have yet organised.

"We want to give people working with children the opportunity to focus on anti-bullying, to share and learn from each other in extending their own policies and practices to prevent bullying.

"The programme includes workshops and talks by national and local experts and pupils and there's been so much interest that both conference days are already fully booked."

As part of its Anti-Bullying Initiative Hertfordshire has appointed its own anti-bullying advisory teacher to provide training and advice to schools.

Funded by the Children's Fund, it also offers support to parents and carers of children who are bullying or are being bullied.

Robert Gordon, executive member for education, said: "Pupils need to understand the impact of their behaviour and take responsibility for it.

"That's why we're involving young people in producing material and guidance to schools drawing up their own anti-bullying policies. We want to get the message across that we are out to tackle the misery that bullying causes."