Teenager Aimee Wellock wanted to change schools to avoid being bullied. Her application was successful and she moved to Parkside School -- only to be bullied again, mainly due to the skin condition she suffered.

The torment lasted from 2003 to earlier this year.

Last week three teenage girls -- none of whom, it must be stressed, attended Parkside -- were found guilty of being responsible for the death of Aimee after a two week trial. During the trial statements were being read out in court criticising the school, claiming it had done little to prevent the bullying.

This week in a frank interview the head teacher at Parkside, Dr Tony Rickwood, has told of the bullying incidents at the school and the actions taken in a bid to control them.

In Aimee's case her parents, Alan and Jackie Wellock, are full of praise for the way the school handled the situation.

Most people will no doubt be able to recall an incident at school when they felt threatened or intimidated by other pupils. But what seems to have happened over the years is that the severity and level of terror of the bullying has increased.

An example of that has come to light this week. At Parkside, Aimee was pulled off a chair after a girl told her that if she didn't get off she would break her legs so she couldn't dance. Aimee's dream was to go to dance school.

What should concern us all in the wake of these events is what can be done to stop children becoming bullies in the first place. The schools are doing what they can with their somewhat limited powers

Once again it is down in the main to parental responsibility. Parents and families are the key to helping schools deal with bullying.

As unacceptable and repugnant as it may be, the fact is that other children are enduring similar bullying each and every day in our schools.

For the sake of Aimee and others like her, as unpleasant as it may be, every parent and carer should spend some time and go out of their way to find out what they can do to prevent their child from becoming a bully.

It is worth asking what led to a young girl threatening to break the legs of another for the sake of a chair.