IN RESPONSE to your article "Bus Bullies could lead to CCTV", dated March 23, I would like to clarify some points for your readers.

Whilst acknowledging the degree of media interest in the section on behaviour on school buses, the article ignored the main thrust of the report, which centred on the excellent and effective work which is being carried out to combat bullying in schools.

The county council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Children's Services learned about the varied and innovative methods that ensure that bullying in schools is kept to a minimum.

In fact, some of the schools told how their student annual surveys on anti-bullying show a year-on-year decrease in the level of incidents.

The most effective work is carried out by schools who involve all of their staff, their students, parents and the community.

The committee was impressed with the positive way that council services, including the Children Services portfolio and the Youth Service, are supporting schools in their endeavours.

The most important messages coming out of the report are that schools should never be complacent about bullying, they need to keep it high on their agenda and share good practice.

They need to help everyone to understand what bullying is, involve everyone in regular monitoring of the schools' anti-bullying policies, and ensure that there are different ways for students to report bullying.

A whole-school approach to dealing with bullying is crucial.

Where schools "live and breathe" a culture of zero tolerance to bullying, success in keeping bullying to a minimum is achieved.

Katharine Woods Assistant Corporate Director Policy, Overview and Scrutiny Buckinghamshire County Council