What are the best ways of tackling bullying in school?

In the early 1990s, a number of schools took part in a large study which looked at anti-bullying work in the schools and whether it was making a difference. The main part of the programme in each school was the anti-bullying policy. Other ways of tackling bullying included training lunchtime supervisors, drama work, assertiveness training and the playground environment. It was found that after introducing the anti-bullying policy and at least one of the other approaches, bullying levels did decrease (particularly at primary school level). Results found that of the extra interventions, the training of lunchtime supervisors was seen as the most important. This was followed by drama work, assertiveness training, playground environment, video work, Pikas approach (a specific, non judgmental way of handling group bullying), quality circles, literature and peer counselling.
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Article details

P K Smith (1999) 'England and Wales', chapter in the book 'The Nature of School Bullying: a cross-national perspective', London: Routledge. Click the book graphic to buy this book online.
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Author details

Professor Peter K Smith is Head of the Unit for School and Family Studies, Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, London. He has been involved in bullying research for a number of years and has published widely on this topic.

Peter Smith may be contacted by email, and the website of the Unit for School and Family Studies at Goldsmiths College may be found here.
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