In among headlines about attendance and low-level disruption, bullying has become less of a focus of our current discourse around education.
But anti-bullying efforts remain crucial in creating a safe and welcoming environment for students.
As education secretary Bridget Phillipson recently said, students need to “belong in school” to improve attendance and outcomes. Fostering anti-bullying initiatives are key to supporting this sense of belonging, helping students feel safe and valued.
At Humphrey Perkins School in Leicestershire, we promote an anti-bullying culture.
And it’s working: our latest student survey, from April this year, revealed that less than 3 per cent of our students had recently experienced bullying, highlighting the effectiveness of our approach.
What’s more, we’re the only secondary school in the county to earn the Gold ‘Beyond Bullying’ Award from Leicestershire County Council.
To mark Anti-Bullying Week (ABW), here is what we do - and why it works.
Empowering students
Research from the Anti-Bullying Alliance shows that 6 per cent of Year 10 students face daily bullying, and 21 percent have missed school in the past year due to bullying - three times more than their non-bullied peers. In some cases, bullied students are even kept home or excluded due to misinterpreted behaviours.
For us, it wasn’t enough to respond to bullying if it occurred. So instead, we have taken a proactive approach to anti-bullying, empowering students to lead positive change.
That starts with our school mantra, which is: “Be brave. Be kind. Be the best you can be.” We believe that students thrive when they feel happy, secure and valued. By instilling this idea within the school motto, we make it clear that it’s a top priority for us.
Mentorship and peer support
A cornerstone of our anti-bullying work is the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) programme, which so far has involved training more than 100 students to support their peers and take a stand against bullying.
MVP mentors gain leadership skills and become role models by shaping a respectful school culture.
Recently, they presented our anti-bullying strategies to our parents, school leaders and governors, implementing an action plan that goes beyond the classroom.
This includes themed assemblies, support for feeder schools, social media campaigns, a planned school podcast focused on anti-bullying messages - and we’re even planning a ‘Thrive Aid’ school concert, too.
Anti-bullying ambassadors
We also foster peer support through a team of 15 anti-bullying ambassadors across Years 8-10.
These ambassadors support their peers, creating a visible network for students. One of their initiatives is a ‘stop box’ campaign, which allows students to discreetly report incidents of bullying or ask for help.
Small gestures, big impact
During Anti-Bullying Week, Humphrey Perkins will deliver small but impactful acts of kindness and joy.
This includes a “chocolate bar hunt,” with 50 chocolate bars per day hidden around the school for students to find. Additionally, students will receive postcards with messages of respect and encouragement to pass on to peers, family or staff.
These gestures demonstrate how small acts of kindness can have a profound impact on an individual’s day.
Student voice
The school conducts surveys with students approximately every six months to understand their experiences and perceptions.
Using survey feedback means we can give students a greater voice to adapt initiatives and work to eradicate bullying altogether.
As part of Anti-Bullying Week, we will conduct a survey to ensure the school remains attuned to the needs of its student body.
A lasting culture of respect
By involving students directly in anti-bullying efforts, we have cultivated a community in which students are active upstanders.
Integrating these measures into daily life ensures that respect and kindness are not just values, but everyday practices. This is something we will continue to promote, encouraging MVP training every year.
These efforts have created a genuinely inclusive environment where students feel safe and respected. This hasn’t just reduced bullying, but built foundations for a more engaged, compassionate student body.
Della Bartram is associate principal at Humphrey Perkins School and safeguarding lead at Lionheart Educational Trust
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