Advice for parents

Advice for
young people

Andrew Mellor
Biography

Bullying at School - Introduction

Advice from Andrew Mellor and
the Scottish Council for Research in Education

How do you know if children or young people are being bullied? What should you do if they are? Bullying takes different forms, some less obvious than others. Good schools try to create an atmosphere where bullying is unacceptable but it can still happen. Schools which tackle bullying effectively become more open and involve more people in decision-making. They become better schools in all sorts of ways.

Many victims of bullying feel it must be their own fault and won't talk about what is going on, even to their families. This booklet provides up-to-date information and advice, it describes what families should look out for and what they can do to get help - from the school or from outside if necessary - if bullying incidents occur. It will also help families to 'bully-proof' their children by preparing them to cope with bullying behaviours and pressures at all stages of schooling. Teenagers as well as adults will find it a valuable source of information.

Sections cover: spotting the danger signs of bullying; what to do if you think someone is being bullied (including what counts as bullying); what you can expect the school to do; helping young people cope with bullying behaviour; and the ways schools try to foster social responsibility in their pupils and work with families to create and maintain safe learning environments.

Andrew Mellor is recognised internationally as an expert on action against bullying. For two years he was seconded from a teaching post to be Anti-Bullying Development officer for Scotland. First published in 1993, this new edition of the guide for families has been substantially revised and updated..