What is Bullying?

Bullying is a repeated action that is intended to cause someone else harm or upset. A simple way to explain this to children is :

Several Times On Purpose

Bullying needs to be differentiated from other forms of behaviour. For example:

• Two friends who fall out is not an example of bullying.
• Single incidents should not generally be classed as bullying unless the same child repeats the behaviour with someone else.

Bullying can be verbal, physical or emotional and can take many forms including: teasing, put-downs, taunting, threatening, spreading rumours or lies, threatening e-mails, abusive text messages, theft, exclusion, sexual harassment, physical attack.

Why do children and young people bully?

Bullies tend to use a difference as an excuse for their behaviour. These may include: ethnicity, disability, ability, sexual orientation and many others.

There are many reasons why children and young people bully:

• They may feel insecure and/or have no sense of achievement
• They may be under pressure to succeed
• They may have been bullied or abused themselves
• They may have become scapegoats

Winners - Anti Bullying Competition 2007

On 1st February 2007 , the 8 winning schools went to Coneygre Arts Centre to have their work professionally produced onto a cd. This cd will be available to all schools in time for anti-bullying week 2008. More information is in the press release "Showcase for Anti Bullying Work" February 2008 and the winning entries are listed below: