Bullying in schools still a widespread problem Commission warns

Bullying in schools is not being tackled and is still a widespread problem a new report shows.

Research from the Equality and Human Rights Commission finds that nearly two in ten of all school pupils do not feel ‘physically safe’ at school.

The problem starts from infant school and continues through secondary education, with nearly half of children aged 6-10 saying they had been bullied at school.

A total of four in ten of these children admitted it was happening at least once a week.

A student’s own personal identity or disabilities were other triggers for bullying.

More than eight in ten disabled pupils and two in three lesbian, gay or transgender secondary school pupils were targeted, with some even receiving death threats.

Pupils who were victims of bullying are likely to do worse in GCSE exams and twice as likely not to be in education, employment or training from the age of 16.

When it comes to the local authorities, 75 per cent had evidence concerning racist bullying.

But this dropped to less than 40 per cent for sexual orientation, religion or belief bullying and less than 30 per cent for disability bullying.

Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Baroness Margaret Prosser, said: “Bullying is a corrosive element running through the lives of many young people.  Parents should expect that their children will be safe in school, but that is not the experience of many school children.  

“As a society we are paying a high price for failing to adequately tackle the issue.  Bullying not only affects the day to day life of those involved but also blight’s their chances in life.

“Schools should have the support they need to address bullying. This could be through preventative strategies that really get to the root causes of prejudice and by having equality and diversity as key components of the core curriculum.”