School Bullying
School bullying can not only prevent a child’s ability to learn at school, but it can result in serious mental health issues that can continue into adulthood. Bullying can come in many forms including:
- Physical bullying
- Verbal bullying
- Peer pressure
- Social bullying
- Cyber-bullying (including social media and gaming)
- Discrimination including race, disability and sexual orientation
How should schools prevent bullying?
In order to reduce instances of bullying arising, your child’s school should have an effective anti-bullying policy and behaviour policy in place. These policies will not only set the bar for expected conduct within school, but should provide certainty and reassurance to parents that there is a strategy in place to support students.
Creating a positive ethos and culture within school should ensure that the wellbeing and education of students are protected and promoted.
How should schools deal with bullying?
In relation to a school’s legal obligations:
- Maintained/State Schools: must have measures to encourage “good behaviour and respect for others on the part of pupils and, in particular, preventing all forms of bullying amongst pupils”
- Independent Schools and Academies: the school/academy should prevent bullying “in so far as reasonably practicable, by drawing up and implementation of an effective anti-bullying strategy”
If an incident of bullying is brought to the school’s attention, these cases should be dealt with fairly and in line with the school’s anti-bullying and behaviour policy. The school may decide to discipline the student and should consider how it can prevent these incidents from occurring again.
It is also important that schools remember to support students who have been bullied in addition to any disciplinary action for the bully.
My child is being bullied at school. What can I do?
If your child is being bullied at school and you do not believe that the school are handling the case properly, you may wish to make a complaint to the headteacher. If you do not believe that the headteacher has dealt with the bullying in a full and fair manner, it may be possible to escalate your complaint to the school’s governing body.
How we can help you
Our education solicitors understand the significant impact that bullying can have on a child. Your child has the right to an education and to feel safe at school.
It is important to set down your complaint in a concise, clear and evidenced manner. Our school complaint solicitors can:
- Obtain documentation and other evidence to support your complaint
- Help navigate the school’s internal complaints system
- Advise whether the school have implemented their own policies
- Advise whether the school had complied with their legal duties
- Submit a detailed and evidenced formal complaint
- Attend hearing with the headteacher/board of governors
Our education law solicitors understand the importance of your child both feeling safe at school and receiving the education that they are entitled to. We will help you put forward a fair and robust case to resolve the issues amicably and swiftly.
Contact our free School Complaint Advice Line today:
- Call: 03333 44 34 84
The Education Advice Line is a free service during which our education lawyers will:
- Consider the best path to success
- Explain how they can help