A whole school approach to preventing and managing bullying

Internationally school bullying has been found to emerge during the early years of formal schooling and to continue throughout high school. Large scale self-report surveys indicate that approximately 15 to 30 percent of students will report being bullied every few weeks or more frequently. School bullying is associated with adverse health and well-being outcomes for both bullies and victims, highlighting the need for effective interventions. Influential meta-analyses have consistently found that whole school approaches significantly reduce levels of bullying and provide the most effective framework for schools to address awareness raising, preventative education and management of bullying. Restorative justice and clear, proportionate discipline have emerged as important strategies for managing school bullying. This policy synthesises research findings and represents an ideal starting point for schools to use a systematic, evidence-based approach to address bullying.