From the Teacher Support Network, www.teachersupport.info.

CYBERBULLYING AND RATEMYTEACHER.COM

We often feature the issue of cyberbullying in Teacher Support Direct. The issue is increasingly causing issues for both pupils and teachers across the country, and earlier in the year we helped the DCSF write new guidelines to tackling the issue of bullying staff through technology such as mobiles and the internet.

Although cyberbullying frequently occurs on more familiar social networking sites, it is often at its most vitriolic on the site ratemyteachers.com

On the site, which was launched in August of 2001, anonymous users can post ‘ratings' and critical comments on teachers at schools across the English-speaking world.

We have just written a new factsheet containing guidance on the site, 'Rate my Teacher website - overview and how to deal with any problems'.

In addition, you can find more resources on cyberbullying:

• Advice for teachers: dealing with cyberbullying; harassment
• 'Cyberbullying: Supporting School Staff' - guidance from the DCSF
• Facebook – Privacy settings
• MySpace privacy settings
• Twittering for teachers – consider using privacy settings