What staff can do
- Acknowledge the problem. It is important to recognise that bullying exists.
- Don’t delay – tackle the issue immediately. Make sure you are aware of the procedures outlined in your anti-bullying policy.
- Ask for help from other members of staff if necessary.
- Keep a record of bullying incidents and what actions were taken.
- Involve your pupils with all your anti-bullying work, especially when writing your anti-bullying policy.
- Establish support mechanisms to help children who are being bullied. This could involve introducing a peer support scheme.
- Work with those who are bullying to change their behaviour. They need to understand the implications of their behaviour.
- Make sure all staff are trained on how to deal with a bullying incident. It is important to involve non-teaching staff.
Running ‘What would you say, what would you do?’
Form a semi circle, the teacher invites someone to go first, they are person A. Give them a card with a statement on, then ask the first person in the semi circle to come to the front to be person B.
Person A plays the bully and delivers the statement to person B the pupil, person B then gives their immediate response, the first thing that they can think of to say back. (there is no wrong answer, it’s about trying things out). You then ask the group whether they thought this would work, if they agree you move on to the next statement, if they are not sure put it back at the bottom of the pile to be used again or ask someone else to have ago.
Person A sits down, B then becomes A and the next person comes up to be B. Continue round until everyone that wants to has had a go. Once you have tried out all the statements let the group choose which they want to practice.
You can role play scenarios and then talk about how you feel for different responses.
For example, if you respond in the same way then there’s no difference between you and the bully. If you are strong and confident and tell them you don’t like what they’re saying, they will be less likely to continue to bully. Other people in class may have ideas you can use – work together to come up with solutions.
Remember the bully will not expect you to stand up for yourself. Notes to teachers
This is an ideal way to equip children with skills and resilience to deal with low level incidents in a PSHE/circle time environment. This exercise has been used effectively with children of all ages and proved extremely popular in the anti-bullying school consultation day.
Advice on how to respond if you’re being bullied.
Prepare a set of cards choosing one of these statements (or you can make up your own). The aim is for children and young people to practise how they respond to the bully, what they will say, how their body language will help and how confident they will feel.
Primary
| “You’re not playing with us” |
“We don’t want you to play our game |
“You’re not coming to our party” |
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Secondary
| “You’re gonna get it, if you don’t do what I say…” |
“Who do you think you’re talking to?” |
“She doesn’t even have her own tv/brand of trainers etc” |
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The Department of Children Schools and Families have issued new guidance Safe to Learn, including specific guidance on cyberbullying and homophobic bullying please see:
Teachernet - Safe to Learn: Embedding antibulling work in schools
Stonewall Organisation: Tackling homophobia in education
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