National Bullying Survey 2006

And teachers across the UK said they wanted more training to deal with the problem.

Bullying UK surveyed 8,574 children, parents, teachers and adults in the first six months of 2006 in the largest ever investigation into school bullying in the UK. The survey was widely publicised on national TV, radio and in newspapers as well as in young people's magazines and on youth, charity, police and council websites.

Scandalous situation

"We reply to thousands of emails a year so we knew the problem was a big one, but even so we were shocked by what we found out," said director Liz Carnell. "This is a scandalous situation and it needs tough measures to sort it out.

"If assaults were happening in the workplace the attackers would be prosecuted but in many cases the bullies are getting off scot-free without any punishment at all," she said.

 The charity believes there should be urgent research to find out why so many children are being bullied repeatedly, despite their parents making numerous complaints to schools.

 "There have never been so many trendy methods of dealing with school bullying but the results of our survey are shocking and it's time to find out which methods work and ditch the rest," said Liz Carnell.

 "Parents will be shocked to learn that bullying is big business but that none of the anti-bullying methods being used in schools have been evaluated in independent long term trials."

Other pages in this sectionBullying policies / Role of the DCSF / Is my child being bullied? / School bus bullies
Practical help with racism / Dealing with racism / How does bullying make a child feel? / Dealing with a younger bully
Adults' survey results / Teachers' survey results / Contacting the school / Access to pupil records
Contacting the Governors and LEAa / Is my child a bully? / Who can help on racism / Parents' problem page
If your child is bullying others / Do you share blame? / Dealing with an older bully / Teacher bullying
Home schooling / Bullying in sport / Parents' panel - Have your say / Parents' survey results
Moving your child to a new school / Pupils' survey results / Taking legal action / Bullying outside school
Independent and private schools / Model letters to help your complaint / National Bullying Survey 2006