Bullying is no longer about children calling each other names or pushing someone over in the playground.

As modern technology has become more advanced, bullies have found new ways of picking on their victims such as sending abusive text messages, emails and even creating hate websites.

In a bid to help victims of cyberbullying, Fort Pitt Grammar School, Chatham, has recruited 22 students as cyber mentors.

The girls will provide face-to-face support and advice for victims during break times and after school.

The cyber mentors also have their own private chatroom on the website where they can ask each other for advice and support on helping victims.

Training was provided by representatives from anti-bullying project Cyber Mentors.

The school is believed to be the first in Medway to sign up to the initiative.

Carol Winn, deputy head teacher at Fort Pitt, said: “We accept the fact that modern technology is being used in an inappropriate way, almost abused, but because of the systems we have in place at the school we don’t have major bullying problems.

We do have to be very careful though, because there’s a difference between bullying and relationship break downs and that tends to be more what we are dealing with a lot of the time, especially with girls.

“Twenty-two mentors is not excessive when you consider there are over 900 students in the school community.

“We also had to take into account that some Year 10, 11, and 12 students won’t be

accessible at some points of the year due to exam leave so we have to cover all eventualities.”

Alex Mason, 17, a senior cyber mentor, said: “Sometimes it’s easier to talk to people of your own age group but if a student has a serious problem cyber mentors pass the information on to the appropriate person.

“I’ve already had 10 people contact me when I’ve been logged on to the website asking for advice on abusive text messages, hate web sites about them, even about physical

bullying on the way in to school.

“I was subjected to bullying IT when I was at junior school and I just want to help others.”