Preventing bullying in English schools

A variety of resources have been developed to raise awareness at English schools. These include materials on how to challenging offensive language, a language guide, and a history of disability harassment and bullying. The tools are now available for all students, parents, and teachers on the Anti-Bullying Alliance website.

Problems Targeted

The bullying and harassment of students with disabilities occurs at least twice the rate as that of non- disabled students in English schools. Research shows that bullying leads to lower academic achievement, low self-esteem, and mental health issues in later life. It is one of the main reasons why parents remove their disabled children from mainstream schools to enroll them in special education institutions, even though this has been shown to lead to poorer academic outcomes.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

In order to prevent bullying a variety of resources have been developed to raise awareness at English schools. These include materials on how to challenging offensive language, a language guide, and a history of disability harassment and bullying. These tools and methods were tested at four mainstream primary and two secondary schools, and as a result six short films were created to show how bullying can be discussed and challenged in schools. The groups were mixed children with and without disabilities. Subsequently, an additional film on the “social model of disability” was created. All of the films and materials can be found on the Alliance website: www.anti- bullyingalliance.org.uk/send-resources/challenging-disablism-classroom-resources/.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

The materials that have been developed can be translated into other languages and adapted to cultural circumstances for the use in many other countries. By reducing bullying, one of the greatest barriers to Inclusive Education can be removed.