A school anti-bullying policy is the written statement every UK school must publish, explaining how it defines bullying, how pupils and parents can report it, and the steps staff follow to investigate and resolve each case, from a first conversation right through to exclusion in the most serious situations.
What must a school anti-bullying policy include?
Every school anti-bullying policy should set out a shared definition of bullying, the different forms it can take, and a clear procedure for reporting, investigating and recording incidents. Most policies also list the sanctions available to staff, the support offered to both the child who was bullied and the child accused of bullying, and how the school monitors patterns over time — for example, whether incidents cluster around a particular year group or online platform. Policies are usually published on the school website and reviewed at least annually by governors, so parents can check the current version rather than relying on what a policy said several years ago.
Is a school anti-bullying policy a statutory requirement?
Yes. Under the Education and Inspections Act 2006, every state school in England has a legal duty to have measures in place to prevent all forms of bullying, and Ofsted inspectors examine how well these measures work as part of the "behaviour and attitudes" judgement during inspection. Independent schools are held to a similar standard through the Independent School Standards. Having a policy on paper is not the same as effective prevention — inspectors look for evidence that pupils feel bullying is dealt with fairly and consistently, not just that a document exists.
How do schools define and categorise bullying?
Most school anti-bullying policies distinguish between several types of bullying, since each calls for a slightly different response from staff.
| Type | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Physical | Hitting, pushing, damaging or taking belongings |
| Verbal | Name-calling, threats, mocking, spreading rumours aloud |
| Indirect / relational | Excluding someone from a group, manipulating friendships, spreading rumours |
| Cyberbullying | Abusive messages, images shared without consent, harassment on gaming or social platforms |
| Prejudice-based | Targeting race, religion, sexuality, gender identity, disability or SEND |
A single unpleasant incident is usually treated as a behaviour issue rather than bullying; policies typically define bullying as behaviour that is repeated, intentional and involves a real or perceived imbalance of power.
How should my child report bullying at secondary school?
Most secondary schools offer several reporting routes so pupils are not reliant on one adult. Common options include telling a form tutor, head of year or pastoral lead directly; using an anonymous reporting box or online form; or asking a trusted friend to pass on a concern on their behalf. Parents can also report bullying themselves, in writing or by requesting a meeting, and should ask the school to confirm in writing what action will be taken and by when. Keeping a simple written record of dates, what happened and who was told helps if the concern needs to be escalated later.
What happens after a bullying complaint is made?
Schools typically follow a similar sequence once a complaint is logged:
- The pastoral lead or form tutor gathers accounts from everyone involved, separately.
- The school decides whether the behaviour meets its definition of bullying or is a one-off incident.
- Sanctions and support are agreed for the child involved, alongside a support plan for the child affected.
- The school records the incident and sets a review date to check the behaviour has stopped.
Parents should expect to be updated in writing, even if the update is simply that the matter is still being investigated.
What can parents do if the school's response isn't working?
If bullying continues after you have reported it, the usual next step is to escalate in writing to the headteacher, referencing the dates you previously raised the concern. If the response still falls short, every state school must have a formal complaints procedure, and unresolved complaints about how a school handled bullying can ultimately be raised with the Department for Education. Ofsted does not investigate individual bullying complaints, but a pattern of unaddressed bullying is exactly what inspectors look for when judging a school's behaviour and safeguarding culture.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child have to name the pupils involved before the school will act?
Most schools prefer named details because it makes investigation and follow-up more effective, but a general concern — such as a pattern of exclusion within a friendship group — should still be logged and looked into. If your child is worried about naming names, ask the school how it protects pupils who report bullying from being identified to those involved.
What if the bullying happens outside school, such as on social media?
Schools have the power to respond to bullying that happens outside the school gates, including online, if it affects a pupil's wellbeing in school or involves pupils from the same school. Save screenshots with dates before reporting, since evidence often disappears once a message or post is deleted.
Can a school refuse to treat something as bullying?
A school can decide that a single incident does not meet its formal definition of bullying, but it should still address the behaviour through normal discipline. If you disagree with how an incident has been categorised, ask to see the relevant section of the school's anti-bullying policy and request that your concern is reviewed against it.
How quickly should a school respond to a bullying report?
There is no single legal timescale, but most school anti-bullying policies commit to an initial response — such as speaking to the pupils involved — within a few school days. If a policy states a specific timeframe, ask the school to confirm whether that deadline was met, and put the request in writing so there is a clear record.
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