Bullying is usually defined as behaviour that:
- is repeated
- is intended to harm someone either physically or emotionally
- often involves a power imbalance, where the person being bullied finds it had to defend themselves
- is Often aimed at certain groups, for example because of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation
- is happening at school or outside school
It takes many forms and can include:
- physical assault
- teasing
- making threats
- name calling
- cyberbullying via mobile phone or online
- damage to property
- deliberately leaving pupils out of social activities
- spreading rumours
Bullying isn’t:
- quarrelling with friends
- a one-off fight
- an argument or disagreement
- short term arguments
- occasional teasing
- bickering
Every school in Wales must, by law, have an anti-bullying policy that includes information such as:
- the different kinds of bullying
- who to contact if your child is being bullied
- services that offer support to learners who are being bullied
You can view each school’s anti-bullying policy on their website or ask them for a paper copy. Find your school's contact details.
If your child is being bullied
You will need to refer to the school’s policy for specific details of their reporting procedure, but below we have laid out the general stages, which you should complete in writing.
You should complete all steps in order, allowing the school sufficient time and opportunity to put in place actions to remedy the situation, and giving the action time to take effect. It may not be possible to completely resolve the situation immediately, but you should feel confident that timely action is being taken. If not, move to the next stage in the process.
- Step 1: report to the class teacher/form teacher/head of year
- Step 2: report to the Headteacher
- Step 3: report to the school governing body
- Step 4: report to the local authority
At every step, keep a diary or event log of all contact you have made and received, making a note of:
- who you spoke to
- how you contacted them (e.g. by phone, email, face to face etc.)
- when (date/time)
- what actions were agreed and who was responsible for these actions
Please note: You should not take to social media to complain about the school or insult, offend or threaten individual school staff. It may cause more harm but it will not resolve the issue. Remember, schools have a duty of care to their own staff as well as to your child. In severe cases, legal or other action may be taken by the school against you if you endanger staff.
You should also not take matters into your own hands and attempt to tackle other children or young people involved in the incident or their families, be this in person or via social media or other online platforms.
If you think your child is bullying others
They may be a bully without even knowing it and can become an accidental bully by copying the behaviour of other people in the family, neighbourhood or friends. Perhaps your child is going through a difficult time and as a result is acting aggressively towards others.
To stop your child bullying:
- encourage your child to admit what they’re doing
- explain to your child that the way they are behaving is not acceptable and making other people unhappy
- encourage your child to apologise to the person they’ve hurt
- show your child how to join in with others without bullying
- speak to your child’s school about how you can work together to stop the bullying
- check regularly with your child about how things are at school
- praise your child when they are cooperative and kind to others
- encourage your child to help others if they see them being bullied and encourage them to tell a teacher or an adult they trust
Get more advice and support
The following websites can help to support children and young people who are experiencing bullying: