Anti-Bullying Week 2014 has marked the 15th birthday of the ongoing campaign to make bullying unacceptable.
During that week, schools nationwide were encouraged to take part in this event by organising exciting ways for children to participate in group activities and raise money for awareness. The event has raised a lot of awareness and the work carried out should continue well beyond November.
Bullying can be described as repetitive behaviour from one party to another, with the intention of causing harm, either emotionally or physically. Bullies often target certain people due to ignorance towards race, religion, gender or sexual orientation or any other aspect such as appearance or disability.
Bullying during younger stages of a persons life is likely to come in the form of either; physical abuse, verbal abuse or cyber bullying.
National Survey Raises Concerns
During a national survey conducted by BullyingUK this year, it was found that many forms of abuse are still a major issue, concerning children, parents and even teachers.
The following alarming statistics were found.
- 93% of pupils reported that bullying occurred at school primarily during break, in classrooms and the playground.
- 81.4% of young people were bullied by more than one person. 62% of the children confided in their parents.
- 95% of parent respondents told BullyingUK that bullying took place in school, with 83.2% identified as name calling, 66% as physical bullying and 68.1% social bullying.
These statistics become even more concerning with these further results from the survey.
- Nearly 92% of school staff feel lunchtime and bank staff should receive training on tackling bullying.
- 74.5% of young people felt their school’s response was unhelpful.
- 61% of parents stated their child was bullied over 8 times or more.
- Once reported 62% of pupils said the bullying didn’t cease.
- 76.3% feel more teacher presence can help minimise bullying.
- 61.4% of staff feel it is difficult to keep on top of bullying within schools.
- 58% of children have taken time off school because of bullying, with a 1/4 missing more than a day off school and 10% penalised for taking the time off.
- 41% of children said bullying going on for 2 years or more.
- 40% of teachers have been assaulted by pupils.
Whilst victims of abuse are encouraged to share their problem with trusted adults, especially teachers, BullyingUK have found this may not be the most effective solution.
- 85% of parents said once the school was involved the bullying still continued.
- 35% of parents felt the school did not take the bullying seriously.
- Only 55% of children were able to confide in their parents straightaway.
Anti-Bullying Resources for Your School
However, with the continued support from many different organisations, counter action can be taken to combat bullying. The following list has been devised to help you raise awareness in your school as another step towards eradicating bullying forever.
- School resources for Key Stage 1 and 2, including Assembly PowerPoint from Beyond Bullying.
Download Beyond Bullying’s presentations here, which contain fact and figures and advice for tackling bullying, along with fundraising ideas.
- A free ebook download.
Get ‘Finding Your Inner Cherokee’ by Siobhan Curham for free by clicking here . The book is full of case studies, exercises and advice to help inspire and empower victims of bullying.
- Bullying and Cyberbullying, at a glance, NSPCC.
Information on bullying, with a focus on Cyber Bullying. Video showing action to be taken by victims to regain confidence.
- Am I a bully? Interactive guide.
BBC, CBBC and Newsround have put together an interactive guide to help everybody understand what bullying is.
- Cyberbullying: A Need To Know Guide from Webanywhere.
Cyberbullying is a growing problem, and one all schools need to know how to deal with. Webanywhere, with help from e-Safety Adviser’s Alan Mackenzie, have put together a free guide to tackling Cyberbullying in school, full of practical tips on implementing anti-bullying policies. You can download the guide here.
- TES Connect, Anti-Bullying Teaching Resources.
Extensive list of resources, here, for teachers to use in schools, Addressing simple friendship issues, through to detecting online abuse.
Understanding bullying.
The links below bring interesting information on why children may become bullies and the consequences of bullying.
https://learn2bebuddies.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/children-with-behaviour-disroders/
https://www.xraydata.com/consequences-of-bullying-the-short-long-term/
