Anti-Bullying Week is more than another date on the school calendar. It's a vital, yearly reminder of the silent battles many pupils are fighting every single day. The truth is, bullying isn't a tough part of growing up; it's a serious issue with lasting consequences.
Data shows that one in four young people experience bullying in the UK. For those within education, it’s a reality in the school community. Online and offline bullying are interlinked. In fact, 70% of students who experienced online bullying said the perpetrator was someone from their school.
This is why Anti-Bullying Week exists. This year’s theme, Power for Good, focuses on how everyone can make a positive difference.
Bullying isn't about playground banter. The emotional impact is profound and long-lasting. University of York research (2024) found that pupils experiencing chronic bullying showed clinically relevant symptoms of trauma. The emotional strain can follow them for decades. A King’s College London study tracking individuals for 40 years found that those frequently bullied in childhood were twice as likely to use mental health services later in life. It’s a powerful reminder of why taking action matters.
With so much evidence linking bullying to long-term emotional harm, this week is the perfect time for schools to ask: Are our support structures really working?
What do strong anti-bullying support structures look like?
They’re the people, policies and practices that prevent bullying, step in when it happens, and support everyone involved. Effective structures reach every level of school life.
The foundation: policy and whole-school ethos
Anti-bullying policy: Many schools, such as those following the NSPCC's template, have implemented clear anti-bullying policies. These outline their commitment to preventing and responding to bullying. Policies include procedures for reporting and addressing incidents and support for affected students. A clear, accessible policy is the cornerstone of prevention. Is it easy for staff, pupils, and parents to find? Do they see it in use?
Building a bully-free school: This process is about culture as much as rules. When support structures work, that shared ethos is felt everywhere – in classrooms, corridors, the playground, and online.
Bullying prevention toolkits: These resources help ensure the policy translates into practical, proactive steps for staff (e.g., challenging derogatory language, promoting respectful ethos). Schools use resources like the Mentally Healthy Schools' bullying prevention toolkit to develop strategies.
Proactive prevention and education
Classroom strategies
Prevention starts with learning. When lessons on kindness, empathy and online safety run through the curriculum, pupils understand what bullying looks like and what to do when they see it. In PSHE and citizenship lessons, Anti-Bullying Week’s Power for Good theme comes alive, showing pupils how to stand up for others and make their school a better place. Encourage pupils to be ‘Upstanders’, those who act safely and kindly, rather than bystanders.
Immediate support and intervention
Peer support strategies
When pupils look out for each other, schools feel safer. Peer ambassadors and buddy schemes turn friendship into support networks, giving students someone their own age they can talk to. You’ll know it’s working when pupils say they’d speak to a friend or ambassador as readily as a teacher.
Non-classroom strategies
These are the structures that address bullying hotspots. This might include extra playground supervision. Increased supervision and clear protocols for areas like the playground or home-to-school transport are working when reported incidents in these spaces decrease.
Staff training
Named, trusted staff such as the designated safeguarding lead (DSL), teachers, teaching assistants (TAs) and pastoral teams are vital points of contact for pupils to report bullying concerns to.
Ensure all staff receive training to recognise, record, and respond to every form of bullying – including online. The Protocol Education CPD academy has courses including childhood trauma, staying safe online, and safeguarding.
Student voice and community
Student voice: Give pupils chances to share their views on school culture, policy, and wellbeing. Student councils, surveys, or discussion groups help leaders see what’s really happening.
Restorative approaches: When bullying occurs, restorative meetings can help repair harm through empathy and accountability.
Safe spaces: Provide a trusted adult or calm space, such as a library corner or pastoral room, where pupils can go when they feel unsafe.
Whole-school ethos:Make respect and inclusion visible every day. Mark events like Odd Socks Day to celebrate individuality and friendliness.
Parents and carers:Keep communication clear and open. Share the school’s anti-bullying policy, support resources, and ways for parents to raise concerns or share feedback.
Building a bully-free school
A whole-school approach considers every part of school life and how prevention strategies can make it safer for pupils. Think about all the places and spaces they use daily: classrooms, corridors, the playground, and beyond. Does respect shine through your school culture? Research shows that schools that model respect and compassion are more successful in preventing bullying.
Anti-Bullying Week activities
The week starts with Odd Socks Day on Monday 10th November. It’s a fun way for pupils and staff to celebrate what makes everyone unique.
During anti-bullying week, schools can:
Hold assemblies or workshops that explore respect and empathy, helping students understand how to recognise and report bullying.
Run whole-school campaigns or displays that celebrate individuality and promote positive behaviour.
Involve parents and carers in activities that reinforce your school’s anti-bullying message and encourage shared responsibility.
Primary and secondary school packs
The Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) offersfree packs for schools. The ideas help schools engage in Anti-Bullying Week with assembly and lesson plans, as well as cross-curricular activity ideas.
Effective bullying prevention strategies
Tackling bullying is challenging. Learning from other schools leading the way can offer strategies and inspiration. The government has published case studies of schools that have tackled bullying. These examples show how schools have created positive cultures and prevented bullying.
Beyond Anti-Bullying Week
For support structures to work, they need a joined-up commitment across three areas: policy (the promise), education (the knowledge), and peer and staff intervention (the action).
Protocol Education is proud to work with schools that champion respect, kindness, and inclusion all year round.
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