Rating description:
- Fully met: All school staff, pupils and parents/carers know how to report bullying and are encouraged to report bullying behaviour on a regular basis via a variety of means.
- Partially met: School staff, pupils and parents/carers know how to report bullying but are not regularly reminded or encouraged to report. Or, school staff, pupils and parents are encouraged to report bullying behaviour but they don’t know how to.
- Not yet met: School staff, pupils and parents/carers don’t know how to report bullying and are not encouraged to report bullying behaviour.
Why is this important?
When all school staff, pupils, and parents or carers clearly understand how to report bullying and are actively encouraged to do so, it creates a united and proactive approach to tackling bullying. This shared responsibility ensures that incidents are identified and addressed promptly, preventing issues from escalating. Promoting a culture where reporting is seen as a positive and supportive action fosters a safer, more inclusive environment where everyone feels responsible for maintaining respect and kindness within the school community.
Top tips:
- Survey staff, pupils and parents/carers to find out if they know the current range of methods to report bullying (remember to avoid a 'one-size-fits all' approach). Ask them if there are better ways that they can report bullying and if the methods seem effective. For example, is action taken quickly enough? Is it clear who to speak to? Is it discrete enough?
- Use various times during the school year to promote the different ways the community can report bullying for example: posters around the school building and grounds (including any identified 'hot spots' e.g. toilets), in newsletters, in staff/pupil inductions, in assemblies, at parents evenings/events, during Anti-Bullying Week, on the school website.
Resources & examples:
Resources
- See ABA's Reporting & Recording section of the website
Examples
Please note that examples from primary and other school settings may still include some useful hints and tips you can adapt and apply for a secondary setting.
- Case study - on using anti-bullying flyers to communicate how to report bullying to both pupils and families
- Secondary School Case Study - on involving the whole school community in implementing a new reporting method so that all would know how to use it
- Secondary School Case Study - on pupils and parents knowing the various ways to report bullying
- Secondary School Case Study - on how to make reporting bullying safe and discreet
- Secondary School Case Study - on improving bullying reporting system to include student voice
See below for quotes and pieces of advice from other schools:
- "We filmed how to report bullying, who to report it to, how to spot the anti-bullying ambassadors, how to report it if they don’t want to talk to anyone, what happens after. We have learnt from this process that we need to keep reminding pupils of the ways to report bullying and that simply telling them is not enough."
Back to 3. Data collection and evidence page
Note: the resources listed at the bottom of this page (below) have all been referenced in the text above.