Childline study is cue for fresh action on bullying in schools

More than two-thirds of secondary school children in England are
reluctant to tell teachers they are being bullied despite the
mandatory introduction of anti-bullying policies in all schools,
according to new research from ChildLine.

The research found that many children decided to keep quiet
about bullying for fear of reprisals or not being taken seriously
by teachers.

Researchers asked almost 1,000 children what schools should do
to combat bullying resulting in several recommendations. One
suggestion is to allow children to participate in the formation and
implementation of anti-bullying strategies and the creation of peer
support networks, through befriending and buddying programmes.

Speaking at a conference to launch the research, minister for
young people Ivan Lewis made a commitment to ensuring that young
people’s voices would be heard. “We plan to issue new
guidance to schools and local education authorities on holding
consultations with pupils including how bullying should be tackled
in schools,” he said.

He went on to announce that new measures to be in place by the
autumn under the £470m behaviour and attendance programme,
including funding and training for all secondary schools in
anti-bullying strategies and consultants to help local education
authorities tackle bullying.

ChildLine’s chairperson, Esther Rantzen said: “Bullying
simply should not exist in the UK’s schools. Since 1998 every
school has been legally obliged to have an anti-bullying strategy
in place.”

The research was conducted by the Thomas Coram Research Unit and
funded by the Department for Education and Skills.

– Tackling Bullying: Listening to the Views of Children and
Young People from
www.childline.org.uk