One in four schoolchildren bullied 'frequently' - as adults told to watch their behaviour

Anti-Bullying Alliance asks 30,000 pupils across England about their experiences of being bullied

Author: Mick CoylePublished 14th Nov 2022

A survey of 30,000 schoolchildren across England has found one in four say they are 'frequently' bullied face to face.

Children with special education needs or disabilities were ever more likely to be targeted (31%) along with those who receive free school meals (30%).

6% of the bullying occurred online.

The findings are published as schools in the UK mark Anti-Bullying Week.

Anti-Bullying Week campaign

The campaign is urging children across the country to reach out to friends and trusted adults if bullying is taking place.

The research, from the Anti-Bullying Alliance and analysed by Goldsmiths, University of London, finds that both those being bullied and the children who bully others have a bad experience of school life, disliking going to school, feeling less safe and having poorer relationships with their teachers.

Martha Evans, Director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance told us: "We know a child who is being bullied is more likely to miss school, to have a range of mental health issues, to even be excluded themselves if they've been bullied.

"People who have been bullied (as children) are more likely to earn less money as an adult, to have achieved fewer qualifications, to not be in a stable relationship and to experience mental health issues as an adult too, so we can't just say that bullying is 'just a part of life' because it absolutely isn't."

Children will wear odd socks to school on Monday 14th as part of the campaign and be encouraged to 'Reach Out' for support if they, or a friend, is being bullied.

Children are wearing odd socks to school to mark Anti-bullying week

Martha said: “Children and young people need to know there is help out there if they are being bullied or are witnessing bullying. It starts by reaching out to someone you trust if you need to talk.

"Reaching out to someone you know is being bullied. Reaching out to consider a new approach.

“And it doesn’t stop with young people. From teachers to parents and influencers to politicians, we all have a responsibility to help each other reach out."

Adults challenged to think about their behaviour

The A-BA says the study underlines the lasting effects of being bullied, with children frequently on the receiving end having significantly poorer wellbeing than those who do not report being bullied at all.

Interestingly, those who frequently bully others have the poorest wellbeing whether they bullied online or face-to-face.

This research is released along with an open letter from the Anti-Bullying Alliance consortium of over 200 organisations calling on all adults to consider the example they are setting to children and young people about how we treat each other.

Martha added: "Whether it is during a Twitter spat, arguments in parliament, a relationship breakdown on the latest reality TV show, or a row on the street; children are too often watching. They are listening and they are learning from us.”

Find out more about Anti-Bullying Week

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