Education and learning

Responding to your concerns in relation to bullying

What is bullying?

Bullying behaviour usually includes:

• Deliberately hurtful behaviour towards 
  the victim.
• A victim who is weaker and less powerful 
  than the bully.
• An outcome which is always painful and 
  distressing for the victim.

Bullying can take many forms and can be:

• Physical - hitting, kicking, pushing, taking belongings.
• Verbal - name calling (including homophobic abuse), threats, insulting, racist remarks.
• Indirect - spreading nasty stories about someone, excluding someone from social groups. Unwanted communication through texting, Internet chat rooms and email.

Why do children bully?

Children who bully can come from any social class or cultural background. For some there may be poor discipline at home, and/or excessive physical punishment or abuse by a parent/carer or older sibling. There may be very little warmth in family relationships.
Understanding the difficulties of bullies does not mean that their behaviour can be condoned. Other children who bully may take part because their friends do so.

Where does bullying take place?

It usually takes place in school. In primary schools much of it takes place in the playground. In secondary schools it is more likely outside but it also happens in the classroom, the corridors  and the toilets.

Who are the victims?

Any child can be bullied but the main risk factors include:

• Lacking close friends.
• Being shy.
• Coming from an over-protective family environment.
• Being from a different racial or ethnic group to the majority.
• Being different in some obvious respect from the majority.
• Having special educational needs.
• A child who behaves inappropriately with others e.g. barging in on games or being a nuisance.

None of these characteristics can excuse allowing the child to be bullied.

Why should schools be concerned about bullying?

Head Teachers have a legal duty to ensure that there are acceptable standards or discipline and behaviour in their school and for regulating the conduct of their pupils. Schools are expected to uphold certain values which include those that reject bullying and cruelty.

What are some of the important reasons for challenging bullying behaviour in schools?

• The safety and happiness of the children. 
• The lives of victims are made miserable. They may:
• • suffer injury;
  • not want to attend school;
  • lose self-confidence and self-esteem;
  • blame themselves for 'inviting' the bullying behaviour.
    
• The unhappiness of bullied children may affect their concentration and learning. 
  Some will avoid being bullied by not going to school.
• Getting a reputation as an effective, caring school. Every school has some degree of bullying. Parents will be impressed and reassured by a school that demonstrates through policy and action effective responses to bullying.

There is some evidence of long-term effects of unchecked bullying that suggests that persistently bullied children are more likely to be depressed young adults.

How can bullying be combated?

The School Standard and Framework Act 1998, Section 61 (4)(b) requires Head Teachers to determine measures to prevent all forms of bullying. This means that all schools should have in place, and annually review the effectiveness of  their anti-bullying policy. Schools should act promptly and firmly to combat bullying.

Pupils should be aware of how they can draw their concerns about bullying to the attention of staff in confidence that these will be carefully investigated and, if substantiated taken seriously and acted upon.

Establishing a whole school policy against bullying involves development (setting up the policy which should involve children, parents, school staff  and governors), implementation (ensuring it is used) and evaluation (reviewing its effectiveness).

Opportunities exist within the curriculum to address bullying and it can be used to:

• Raise awareness about bullying behaviour and about the school's anti-bullying policy.
• Challenge attitudes about bullying behaviour, increase understanding for bullied pupils and help build an anti-bullying ethos in the school.

Schools can work with children in bullying situations in a variety of ways and can receive help and support services.

School complaints procedure

All schools are required to have a complaint procedure. Your child's school will be glad to give you a copy if you ask for one.

You may also wish to look at the Department's leaflet 'Responding to Your Concerns in Relation to Schools'.

For further help please contact the Department's Complaints Officer.

Where can parents and young people get help?

Croydon Education Welfare Service - ask your child's school for details of your Education Welfare Office.

For further sources of information and advice please see our contacts section.

Contact Details

Contact name

Education Welfare Service

Telephone

0208 726 6180

Address

7th Floor Leon House,
233 High Street,
Croydon CR0 9XT

Contact name

Croydon Council Bullying Helpline

Telephone

020 8760 5570

Contact name

Sharon Meadmore

Job title

Departmental Complaints & Schools Support Officer

Telephone

020 8726 6000 ext 65496

Fax

020 8760 5447

Email

education.comments@croydon.gov.uk

Address

Taberner House
Park Lane
Croydon
CR9 1TP

Contact name

Anti-bullying campaign

Telephone

020 7378 1446

Website

www.bullying.co.uk

Contact name

ACE (Advisory Centre for Education)

Telephone

0808 005793

Website

www.ace-ed.org.uk

Contact name

Childline

Telephone

0800 1111

Website

www.childline.org.uk

Contact name

Kidscape

Telephone

08451 205204

Website

www.kidscape.org.uk

Contact name

Parentline Plus

Telephone

0808 800 2222 (Helpline)

Fax

020 8665 1972

Address

Cornersone House
14 Willis Road
Croydon
CR0 2XX

Website

www.parentlineplus.org.uk