Leadership

Drawing the line at bullying

Working in a school, it can be hard to distinguish between good-natured boisterousness and more worrying behaviour. How do you and your colleagues tell the difference between playful teasing and bullying? The Key's specialist researcher for pupil behaviour, Sarah Goodman, outlines how you can define and identify incidents of bullying.

The Key’s specialist researcher for pupil behaviour, Sarah Goodman, outlines how you can define and identify incidents of bullying. She gives examples of how you can try to support victims and make bullies aware of the consequences of their actions.

I remember being told that ‘sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me’. Growing up, you discover that simply isn’t true. Children can be cruel and the consequences of bullying can last for years.

Working in a school, it can be hard to distinguish between good-natured boisterousness and more worrying behaviour. How do you and your colleagues tell the difference between playful teasing and bullying? Children’s relationships can be every bit as complicated as those between adults so it’s important to understand what is going on in your classroom.

Defining bullying

According to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), bullying is behaviour that ‘intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally’. 

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