Lawn Manor Academy has marked this year’s Anti-Bullying Week with a special appearance from Swindon-born international martial arts businessman Matt Fiddes.
With a week-long timetable of activities that celebrated their pupils and this year’s theme of ‘Power for Good’, Lawn Manor Academy was also invited to speak on a national anti-bullying panel to show how their commitment to anti-bullying is being implemented across the school.
A highlight of the week was an assembly featuring a special video message from Matt Fiddes, telling his story of how bullying at school in Swindon propelled him to start his business, which is now worth over £120 million.
Matt, who had been Michael Jackson’s personal bodyguard and close friend, explained to pupils that who you are friends with affects who you become as an adult and that combatting his own experience of bullying was the ignition behind his success. He said: “As a martial artist, I could have got into a fight and beat my bullies no problem, but I knew that’s not what my instructor wanted me to do, and I’m better than that. So, I focused on studying, reading books on what I wanted to achieve, learn how to be the best, study the greatest in the world and make myself better.
“I attracted people in my life, the most famous one being Michael Jackson, who called me up, wanted me to teach him martial arts. And then I became his bodyguard for 10 years, lived with him and travelled the world with him. Who would have thought that for a poor boy in Swindon?
“Work hard, stay positive, remember, dream it, achieve it, believe it, go after your dreams.”
Assistant Headteacher of Lawn Manor Academy and Senior Lead for Anti-Bullying, Marek Koza, was also invited to speak in front of other schools across the country about their work as part of their United Against Bullying Plus (UAB+) pilot programme. Spearheaded by the Anti-Bullying Alliance in partnership with Kidscape, the initiative worked with 18 schools across the country to provide school support and additional staff training.
Marek explained: “Anti-bullying is part of our school’s DNA, and inclusion, respect and celebrating diversity is embedded into everything we do. We encourage pupils to make a difference and use their ‘Power for Good’ by giving them real responsibility and visibility.
“Through taking on important roles such as ‘Welcome Ambassadors’ and peer mentors our pupils model positive behaviour and inclusion. They take shared responsibility for co-planning events and signing the ‘I RESPECT’ charter each year reinforces shared responsibility and champions kindness and respect.”
Lawn Manor Academy is part of the Ascend Learning Trust. For more information, visit www.lawnmanor.org
Article from Vox PR and Marketing
