The purpose of this webpage is to assist schools in fulfilling their duty to create safe learning environments where bullying, harassment and violence are never tolerated.
"All staff should be aware that children can abuse other children (often referred to as child-on-child abuse), and that it can happen both inside and outside of school or college and online." - Clause 32, KCSIE 2022
"All staff should understand that even if there are no reports in their schools or colleges it does not mean it is not happening, it may be the case that it is just not being reported." - Clause 34, KSCIE 2022
"It is essential that all staff understand the importance of challenging inappropriate behaviours between children that are abusive in nature." - Clause 35, KCSIE 2022
Policy and guidance
To access documents (e.g. model policy, self-assessment and action planning tools, incident form templates, etc.) that support your work to effectively prevent and tackle all forms of bullying, visit our Policies and guidance page.
Types of bullying
Resources and guidance to help you tackle the following types of bullying:
- Internet safety and cyberbullying
- Homophobic and biphobic and transphobic bullying
- Racism, religious and cultural bullying
- Sexist and sexual bullying
- Special needs and disability bullying
Parent/carers and young people
Direct parents/carers and young people to our Help if your child is being bullied page for more information on bullying, what to do if they are experiencing (or accused of) bullying and for useful links.
External sources of training
Organisations who receive grants from the Department for Education are:
National Children’s Bureau (Anti-Bullying Alliance)
Their ‘United Against All Bullying’ programme focuses on reducing bullying of those most at risk: children and young people with SEND, children and young people who experience racist and faith-targeted bullying, sexual bullying, homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, looked-after children, young carers and those on free school meals.
In addition, as part of their All Together programme, the Anti-Bullying Alliance have a suite of free online training for anyone that works with children and young people.
Topics include:
- What is bullying?
- Bullying and the Law
- Bullying and SEN/disability
- Ten principles to reduce bullying
- Preventing bullying
- Responding to bullying
- Cyberbullying (Online bullying)
Diversity Role Models: Their package of interventions for schools will ensure staff have the knowledge and skills to tackle and prevent bullying and create inclusive school cultures.
This is anchored by training about diversity and the protected characteristics, featuring personal lived experience stories to embed empathy.
Equaliteach: This intensive, evidence-based, anti-bullying programme involves schools receiving a dedicated EqualiTeach Representative who will work with them on policies, consult with the school community, review
existing practice, and develop and implement a bespoke action plan. Each school also receives a series of online and in-person staff training, networking opportunities with other schools and an Agents for Change event for pupils.
Anne Frank Trust: ‘Different But The Same’ is an intensive anti-bullying support 3-year project, providing training and support for young people, their teachers and schools to tackle bullying focused on protected characteristics
including LGBT+, SEND, race, religion/belief or sexual/sexist-based bullying.
The Diana Award : This project empowers young people with the skills, tools, confidence and knowledge needed to significantly transform school culture and provide support to peers. The award has the aim of reducing
prevalence of bullying with particular focus on protected characteristics and associated bullying, and increased school confidence and ability in responding to incidents of bullying effectively.
Early Intervention / Preventative Curriculum
This webpage aims to provide educational settings in Oxfordshire with information and guidance to support the implementation of effective whole-school approaches to mental health and wellbeing.
Targeting professionals working in and with schools, this page also seeks to enable children, parents/carers and school staff access to relevant mental health and wellbeing support.
In addition to the above training, you can access information and guidance to support you work in delivering the statutory Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (Secondary) and Health Education Curriculum on the below page: rshe-curriculum-resource-hub.
Becoming a Restorative School
Dealing with conflict and bullying in school can be challenging and time consuming. If dealt with effectively, the whole school community benefits. If not dealt with effectively, the whole school community can end up suffering.
Oxfordshire County Council is committed to supporting schools in embedding restorative approaches. Becoming a restorative school has many benefits, including increased attendance, reduced exclusions and improved achievement. Restorative Practice is also an approved approach by Children’s Social Care and Thames Valley Police.
A restorative school allows time to listen to the voice of children and young people, staff and families. It wants to hear people’s stories, help them clarify their issues and needs, and empower them to find their own solutions to what is concerning them. Restorative approaches can hugely benefit children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
For more information on Restorative Practice, training and ongoing support available to all schools.
Anti-Bullying Week
Anti-Bullying Week happens in the UK every November and is time set aside for people to come together to acknowledge the devastating impact bullying can have on people and reflect on ways we can effectively prevent and tackle bullying in our schools.
More information on Anti-Bullying Week and to access useful resources, go to: https://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/anti-bullying-week
Additional sources of support
Did you know that the following organisations have many resources that may also support your work in eradicating bullying from your setting?
There is a wealth of information available to support schools and colleges in safeguarding children. Refer to pp.153-160 in the latest version of Keeping Children Safe in Education for additional advice and support.