What is bullying?Ìý

Anti-bullying charityÌýÌýany behaviour that is intended to hurt, is repeated and whereÌýit’sÌýhard for the person on the receiving end to defend themselves.Ìý

In late 2025, theÌýÌýreported that one in five pupils in years 7 to 13 had been bullied in the past year, with bullying behaviours being especially prevalent in years 7-9.Ìý

Some groups are more vulnerable to bullying than others. Because bullies often target those who are perceived to be ‘different’,Ìýchildren and young people are more likely to be bullied if theyÌýare:Ìý

• AÌýchild withÌýspecial educational needs and disabilities (SEND)Ìý

• In care or a young carerÌý

• From a minority ethnic backgroundÌý

• Living in povertyÌý

• Openly, orÌýareÌýperceived to be, LGBTQ+Ìý

This is not an exhaustive list, and perceived differences amongst children mightÌýevenÌýinclude things like clothing choicesÌýorÌýhair colour.Ìý

The digital world: what is cyberbullying?Ìý

With the digital world being a large part of children’s lives,Ìýit’sÌýimportant for the adults that work with them to be aware of the role technology can play in bullying behaviour.Ìý

The Anti-bullying Alliance reported that almost a third of children who reported being bullied in 2025 said some of it happened online.Ìý

Cyberbullying isÌýbullying through digital channels such as social media or text messaging,Ìýin or outside of school.ÌýIt often includes:Ìý

• Sending threatening or hateful messagesÌý

• Sharing embarrassing videos or imagesÌý

• Pretending to be someone else onlineÌý

How to identify bullying behaviour

As a teacher or member of school staff,Ìýit’sÌýimportant you canÌýspot the signs a child is being bullied. While no two children are the same,Ìýthere are someÌýcommon signs of bullying:Ìý

• Changes in behaviour such as becoming moreÌýreservedÌý

• Increased absences from school and school avoidanceÌý

• Missing or ‘lost’ belongingsÌý

• Changes in academicÌýperformanceÌýsuch as missed homeworkÌý

• Physical injuries, especially whereÌýthey’reÌýunexplainedÌý

Conversely, there areÌýalso indicators that a childÌýmightÌýbeÌýbullying someoneÌýelse, includingÌýunexplained new belongings, getting into fights and being close friends with a bully.Ìý

How to deal with bullying at schoolÌý

If you suspect a child is being bullied,ÌýcreateÌýopportunitiesÌýfor themÌýto share with you. Pay attention to the things they tell you and their body language.Ìý

It'sÌýimportant to consider classroom and peer group dynamics, as they may not want to share with you until they feel safe, such as in a one-on-one situation.Ìý

What to do once you know it's bullying

OnceÌýyou’veÌýascertainedÌýthatÌýa child is being bullied,Ìýit’sÌýimportant you let them know that you will find a solution together, and that they are not at fault.Ìý

Children often fear the repercussions of speaking to a teacher or member of staff, so it can be useful to ask the child what they need from you as this helps to make them feel in control.Ìý

It’sÌýalso importantÌýto record what you have been toldÌý– such as who has been involved and how longÌýtheÌýbullying hasÌýbeen happening.

Taking action to stopÌýbullyingÌý

Making sure the child is safe is key and you should prioritiseÌýtaking action to stopÌýtheÌýbullying. This mightÌýlook like:Ìý

• Talking to the children involvedÌý– the alleged bullies might have a different storyÌý

• EmphasisingÌýthat regardless of who ‘started it’Ìý– or whether the alleged bullies feel they wereÌýprovoked to act that wayÌý– bullying behaviour is not okayÌýno matter who is doing it,Ìýor for what reasonÌý

• Taking action to preventÌýit from continuing or happening againÌý

• Agree on this action with the children involved, such as with an action planÌý

• Decide when you will check in withÌýall children involvedÌýto review the situation – and make sure the children are aware this will be happeningÌý

It's keyÌýto record what happens at each step and any actions or action plans you and the children agree on. If your school has a process in place for reporting bullying, make sure it’s in line with this.Ìý

Working with parents and guardiansÌý

Including parents and guardians in the process can prevent complaints, and theirÌýuniqueÌýperspective on their own child’s behaviour is likely to be useful – for example, they may be the first to notice their child becoming more withdrawn or comingÌýhome withÌýunexplained injuries.Ìý

Bullying outside the school gatesÌý

ThroughÌýtheÌý, headteachers have the power to discipline their students for any bullying incidents outside of schoolÌýtoÌý‘an extent that is reasonable’.Ìý

Your anti-bullying policyÌýshouldÌýexplain that it covers bullying behaviour both inside and outside of school,ÌýandÌýdetailÌýhow youÌýshouldÌýrespond to reports of bullying outside school premises.Ìý

When this comes toÌýjourneys to and from school,Ìýit’sÌýimportantÌýto work with your local transport providers to agree how you will prevent bullying behaviour, and how they can raise any concerns with the school.Ìý

Cyberbullying is one of the most common forms of bullying outside of school premises – and is often an extension of bullying behaviour that takes place during the school day. Your anti-bullying policy should also include details on dealing with cyberbullying behaviour.Ìý

Where bullying outside school is reported to school staff, it should be investigated and acted on. If the misbehaviour could be criminal or poses a serious threat to a member of the public, the police shouldÌýalsoÌýbe informed.Ìý

However,ÌýteachersÌýcan only disciplineÌýstudentsÌýon school premises orÌýanywhere whereÌýthe pupil is under theÌýteacher’sÌýlawful control.Ìý

How can you prevent bullying and cyberbullying?Ìý

Once you have dealt with a bullying issue at school,Ìýit’s essential toÌýtake action that prevents further incidents from occurring.ÌýFor schools, this means:Ìý

• Having anÌýanti-bullying policyÌýthat clearly defines bullying andÌýincludesÌýa strategy for handling incidentsÌý

• Equipping staff to handle bullying withÌýconsistent trainingÌý

• Having anÌýanti-bullying culture with zero toleranceÌýfor bullying behaviourÌý

• EnsuringÌýchildren know what bullying looks likeÌýand how they should report a bullying incidentÌý

• AssigningÌýa senior leaderÌýto lead on managing bullying incidentsÌýand bullying preventionÌý

Learn fromÌýanyÌýincidentsÌýreportedÌýto identifyÌýareas of focus in your school. This could be locations around the school, classesÌýorÌýyear groups where bullying is more common.Ìý

What isÌýanti-bullying?Ìý

As a school, being anti-bullying means proactively working to prevent bullyingÌý(rather thanÌýsimplyÌýaddressing it when an incident is reported) and building a school cultureÌýthat doesn’t accept bullying of any kind.Ìý

This creates a safer school environment whereÌýchildrenÌýknow bullying is unacceptableÌýandÌýall staff know how to handle bullying behaviourÌýwhen they see it.Ìý

Identify and address bullying with confidenceÌý

It's essential that teachers and school staff know how toÌýunderstand, recognise and prevent bullying behaviour.Ìý

OurÌýÌýsafeguardingÌýcourse, written in partnership with bullying prevention charityÌý,ÌýequipsÌýleaders, teachers and school staff to manage and challengeÌýbullying, so they canÌýpromoteÌýsafeÌýschools andÌýpositive relationships.Ìý

It coversÌýa range of topics, including:Ìý

• What bullying is,Ìýwho may be vulnerableÌýand its impactsÌý

• The role technologyÌýplaysÌý

• How to identify signs of bullyingÌý

• Practical strategies to address bullyingÌý

• How to work with parents and guardiansÌý

Access the course now and learn to identify, address and prevent bullying with confidence, so you can keep children safer at school.Ìý