30,000 fewer children bullied in schools, study suggests
The study, conducted by the Department for Education (DfE), looked at 10,000 secondary school pupils and found that 30,000 fewer children are bullied now compared to 2005.
The study also found that robbery between pupils has halved over the last decade, with only one per cent of children reportedly robbed in 2014.
The DfE has attributed the study’s findings to ‘tough new powers’ introduced in 2010 that give teachers stronger powers to search pupils, remove the requirement to give parent’s 24 hours’ written notice of after-school detentions and clarify teachers’ power to use reasonable force to control unruly pupils.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan hailed the figures, saying: “As part of our commitment to delivering social justice we are helping teachers and charities end the scourge of bullying in our schools. We are determined to tackle any barriers which stop pupils attending school and learning so they can fulfil their potential.
“Thanks to our reforms and their efforts, bullying is plummeting. While there is still more to do, today’s news confirms that strong discipline coupled with the right support allows children to flourish, and can transform lives by reducing bullying.”
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