Much more needs to be done to tackle bullying, says a regional pressure group, after a new report published yesterday revealed bullying based on students’ identities is a widespread problem in schools.
The research from the Equality and Human Rights Commission found efforts to tackle the problem varied between local authorities and for different types of identity-based bullying. Identity-based bullying refers to any form of bullying relating to a child’s identity, such as their race, religion, sexual orientation or physical appearance.
Paul Dunn, Chief Executive of Taunton-based Equality South West (ESW), said: “Whether a child is bullied because of their race, sexual orientation or the way they look or any other personal characteristic, the effects are the same.
“Bullying causes psychological, social and academic problems in both the short and long term. It blights lives and causes untold misery to the victims.
“Worst still, the effects can last a lifetime. Studies show victims of bullying do worse in their GCSE exams and are twice as likely as others not to be in education, employment or training at the age of 16.”
The research, carried out by Goldsmiths, University of London, found:
- Nearly two in ten of all school students said that they do not feel physically safe at school.
- Nearly half of 6-10 and 14-year-olds said they had been bullied at school.
- Among the primary school children who said they were being bullied, four in ten said it was happening at least once a week.
- More than eight in ten disabled pupils have been bullied at school.
- Two in three lesbian, gay or transgender secondary school pupils said they had been bullied and nearly one in six of them had received death threats.
Paul Dunn said ESW was disturbed by the finding that only three out of 16 local authorities in the South West had responded to a questionnaire sent to all local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales as part of the study.
This was a response rate of 19%, compared to 38% for local authorities in England as a whole, 24% for Scotland and 18% for Wales.
When asked, the most common reason for failing to respond was lack of time and/or capacity to complete the questionnaire. Also, despite repeated requests, in a number of local authorities the research team had problems locating the person responsible for anti-bullying work.
Paul Dunn said: “This study reveals some of the serious gaps in the system which, in too many cases, is seriously failing bullied children.
“One of our key concerns is accountability. Ten years ago we could have asked the local education authority how they were tackling the problem. Today the school system is fragmented and — as the researchers found — it’s not clear who is responsible for tackling bullying in schools in an area.
“When we had a regional assembly, we could have raised the issue there too. But, again, it’s not clear who’s accountable for this kind of issue now. Are we supposed to contact thousands of individual schools to find out how bullying is being tackled?”
He said ESW intended to write to Nick Gibb MP, Minister for Schools, to ask who should be held accountable for this issue and how local communities could properly monitor efforts to tackle bullying both in schools and in the community.