Pupils' survey results

Of 4,772 pupils who completed the survey, 69% complained they had been bullied with each bullied pupil saying they had suffered an average of six different types of bullying at school.

Name calling was the biggest problem and 56% of abusive remarks referred to weight and appearance, while more than 50% of bullied pupils said they were physically hurt and 34% of those needed to see a doctor/hospital. A total of 3% of attacks had involved a weapon.

Cyber bullying was an issue for 7% of young people who reported suffering internet abuse, receiving abusive emails or instant messaging and phone bullying by text message.

Bullying on the walk to and from school upset 4% and problems on the bus affected 2%.

Homophobic bullying victims said that more than 28% of them had suffered violent attacks and where racist bullying had occurred 43% of pupils had suffered violence.

Where bullying happened

The distress caused by bullying was very high with 76% of children saying they were mentally hurt, 49% felt very upset and 30% said they were suicidal.

A large number of bullied children 65% said they were sometimes afraid to go to school while 21% of those who said they had taken time off school had done so on five or more occasions.

Most children, 74%, reported bullying to a parent/carer or teacher and 48% said they had told their teacher more than five times that they were being bullied. Where bullying was reported to a teacher in 55% of cases it did not stop and 60% of pupils did not feel their complaint was taken seriously. In 31% of the cases nothing happened to the bully.

Only 45% of children in England and Wales said they took part in Anti-Bullying Week 2005. This was held in November in England and in October in Wales. In England the figure was 48%.

What sort of anti-bullying policy did schools have?

51% of pupils said their school had an anti-bullying policy but only 23% knew what type.

Counselling was considered to be the most effective anti-bullying method at 53% followed by peer support 51%, restorative justice 50%, circle time 45%, mediation 40% and no-blame 34%.

Only 30% of children had been bullied outside school and 20% admitted to being a bully but of those 43% said they had not been punished.

A staggering 85% had seen someone else being bullied and 82% said they had tried to help. More than 90% of pupils claimed to feel upset, angry or scared when they saw someone being bullied and 61% of pupils were sometimes afraid to leave their home.

Other pages in this sectionSchool projects / Bullies have taken my friends away / Bullying - Have your say! / Dangerous websites
How to help someone being bullied / Mobile phone problems / School bus bullies / Gay bullying
Weapons can KILL / Racist bullying / National Bullying Survey 2006 / Introduction to bullying
Cyberbullying - What is Cyberbullying / Happy slapping / Internet abuse / Bullying outside school
Are you a bully? / Problems young people suffer / Adults' survey results / Pupils' survey results
Parents' survey results / Tips from pupils / Moving school / Internet scams
Body language / Cyber safety tips / Teachers' survey results / Bullying in sport
Taking time off school?