What are the best ways of tackling bullying in school?

In the early 1990s, 16,000 children from primary and secondary schools in Strathclyde, Scotland answered questions about bullying. They described what they thought schools could and should be doing to prevent and tackle bullying. Their suggestions for preventing bullying included: taking it seriously, encouraging pupils to report it, encouraging discussion about it, improving supervision in the playground and within the school building, making break times more enjoyable and safer, improving communication and relationships between pupils and between teachers and pupils, introduce code of behaviour and dress. Their suggestions for reacting to bullying included support for the victims. While some pupils suggested punishing the bullies, others suggested taking a supportive role and felt that punishment would only make matters worse.
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Article details

A McLean (1997) 'Bullyproofing Our School: what do the pupils think?', Topic 2, Issue 17. National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). This article can be viewed here.
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Author details

At the time of this study, Alan McLean was Principal Psychologist based at the Education Department Psychological Service in the former Strathclyde Regional Council. His particular interests in the area of bullying include: links between bullying and motivation; the thinking processes and self-esteem of the bully.

He can be contacted at by email.
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