Our Anti-Bullying Foundations

Download our Anti-Bullying Foundations here

Over the past few years, we at ABA have worked with thousands of schools and settings through our United Against Bullying and United Against Bullying Plus whole-school anti-bullying programmes. These initiatives were designed to identify and embed what truly works in anti-bullying practice, helping schools and settings strengthen their approach through shared learning, meaningful interventions, and tailored support.

Drawing on the rich insights from case studies, pupil questionnaires, and in-depth conversations accumulated throughout our anti-bullying programmes, we have distilled this collective experience into five essential Anti-Bullying Foundations that schools and other settings can use as guidance and a solid starting point for impactful anti-bullying work.

Our Anti-Bullying Foundations:

1) Establish a shared definition of bullying. 

Clearly understood and consistently applied by all staff, pupils, and parents & carers. 

You can find our bullying definition resources here.

2) Develop a robust anti-bullying policy 

Share it regularly with the whole community, and name a senior member of staff as anti-bullying lead (and lead governor for schools).

Find out more about anti-bullying policies here.

3) Provide anti-bullying training to all staff 

Ensure all staff (including non-teaching staff) are provided with regular anti-bullying CPD, and ensure it’s built into staff induction.

Access our free online CPD training courses here.

4) Embed a respectful culture 

Foster belonging, inclusion, and fairness; value every voice (young people, parents, and staff); and prioritise kindness.

Find our anti-bullying prevention resources here.

5) Set up an effective reporting system 

Ensure it is widely promoted and consistently used by all; and proactively use the data, along with annually gathered views from young people, to inform and improve the anti-bullying strategy. 

Find out more about reporting and recording bullying here.

Anti-bullying work spans across all areas of the whole-school or setting approach, and there is a multitude of actions that schools and settings can take to tackle bullying. While the five foundations aren’t the only things that schools and setting can do, they outline the core elements that need to be done right throughout the whole-school/ setting to ensure that any further anti-bullying initiatives have greater chances of success and long-term impact.