Bullying can be physical or emotional and it can take many forms (for example, cyber-bullying). Immediate physical safety and stopping violence come first but bullying can also be because of prejudice against particular groups (for example, because of Special Educational Needs, on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or transgender status, or because of caring duties).

School staff, leaders and governors are best placed to decide how best to respond to the particular issues that affect their pupils. There is no single solution to bullying which will suit all schools.

Successful schools have clear policies in place to deal with bullying and poor behaviour which are clear to parents, pupils and staff so that, when incidents do occur, they are dealt with quickly.

Schools should apply disciplinary measures to pupils who bully in order to show clearly that their behaviour is wrong. Disciplinary measures must be applied fairly, consistently, and reasonably taking account of any special educational needs or disabilities that the pupils may have and taking into account the needs of vulnerable pupils.

It is also important to consider the motivations behind bullying behaviour and whether it reveals any concerns for the safety of the perpetrator. Where this is the case the child engaging in bullying behaviour may need support themselves.

Schools which excel at tackling bullying have created an ethos of good behaviour where pupils treat one another and the school staff with respect because they know that this is the right way to behave. Values of respect for staff and other pupils, an understanding of the value of education, and a clear understanding of how our actions affect others permeate the whole school environment – in the playground, corridors, classrooms, and beyond the school gates.

The knowledge and values that children are taught in lessons are reinforced by staff and older pupils setting an excellent example to others. Schools that achieve this are successful in preventing bullying from arising in the first place.

Successful schools also:

  • involve parents to ensure that they are clear that the school does not tolerate bullying and are aware of the procedures to follow if they believe that their child is being bullied. Parents feel confident that the school will take any complaint about bullying seriously and resolve the issue in a way that protects the child, and they reinforce the value of good behaviour at home
  • involve pupils. All pupils understand the schools’ approach and are clear about the part they can play to prevent bullying, including when they find themselves as bystanders
  • regularly evaluate and update their approach to take account of developments in technology, for instance updating ‘acceptable use’ policies for computers
  • implement disciplinary sanctions. The consequences of bullying reflect the seriousness of the incident so that others see that bullying is unacceptable
  • openly discuss differences between people that could motivate bullying, such as religion, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexuality. Schools can also teach children that using any prejudice based language is unacceptable
  • use specific organisations or resources for help with particular problems. Schools can draw on the experience and expertise of anti-bullying organisations with a proven track record and / or specialised expertise in dealing with certain forms of bullying
  • provide effective staff training. Anti-bullying policies are most effective when all school staff understand the principles and purpose of the school’s policy, its legal responsibilities regarding bullying, how to resolve problems, and where to seek support. Schools can invest in specialised skills to help their staff understand the needs of their pupils, including those with Special Educational Needs and/or disability (SEND) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGB&T) pupils
  • work with the wider community such as the police and children’s services where bullying is particularly serious or persistent and where a criminal offence may have been committed. Successful schools also work with other agencies and the wider community to tackle bullying that is happening outside school
  • make it easy for pupils to report bullying so that they are assured that they will be listened to and incidents acted on. Pupils should feel that they can report bullying which may have occurred outside school including cyberbullying
  • create an inclusive environment. Schools should create a safe environment where pupils can openly discuss the cause of their bullying, without fear of further bullying or discrimination
  • celebrate success. Celebrating success is an important way of creating a positive school ethos around the issue.