SCHOOL inspectors are to check if schools are implementing a recent government-backed anti-bullying campaign.

“It’s important that all schools act upon the existing measures,” said Ylve Johansson, the education minister, during a visit to Dragon senior high school in Umea, northern Sweden.

“I want every child to feel secure at school, and to look forward to going to school,” she said.

During the past year, the government stepped up its onslaught against bullying, violence and racism by requiring all headteachers to develop whole-school anti-bullying policies and all school staff to intervene in cases of bullying and other violent incidents.

It also set aside 10 million Swedish kronor (pound;770,000) to provide headteachers with fast-track training in how to carry through these statutory measures. “Now it’s important to follow the measures up,” she said. This will involve visits by school inspectors next year to find out what the schools are doing to combat bullying.