Schools have a legal duty to deal with bullying. The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 requires all schools to ensure that measures are in place to prevent all forms of bullying among students.

Schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy based on the principles of the Anti-Bullying Charter (see the link on the right) that the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) strongly advises all schools to adopt. It should promote respect for others and tolerance.

More importantly, schools must be implementing their Anti-Bullying Policies. If you would like to read your school’s Anti-Bullying Policy you can ask for a copy, as schools are required to make it available to all members of staff, pupils and parents. If you don’t feel that the policy is being put into practice you should raise this issue with the school.

In addition to having an Anti-Bullying Policy, schools should have a range of preventative strategies in place to deal with bullying and have arrangements for safeguarding children and young people.


Links

On the right hand side there are a number of links you might find helpful. The 'guide to the law' by bully free zone summarises your legal position with regards to bullying and outlines the school’s responsibilities. The 'beat bullying toolkit' contains a range of useful information on bullying, including anti-bullying policies. 'Don’t suffer in silence' is the DCSF’s guidance on bullying.

CCC does not accept responsibility for the content of external sites