Guidance

Preventing bullying

Guidance for schools on preventing and responding to bullying.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 22 August 2013
• Last updated: 9 July 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 9 July 2026

     Removed 'Cyber bullying: advice for headteachers and school staff', as this guidance has been replaced.

  2. 4 July 2017

     Merged the publication 'Supporting children and young people who are bullied: advice for schools' with 'Preventing and tackling bullying'. New version of 'Preventing and tackling bullying' includes additional information about how schools can support children and young people who are bullied.

  3. 17 November 2014

     Added advice on cyberbullying for school staff and parents

  4. 28 October 2014

     Updated both documents in light of unavailability of BeatBullying services.

  5. 17 March 2014

     Added 'Supporting children and young people who are bullied: advice for schools'.

  6. 11 March 2014

     Expanded definition of bullying to include the 'imbalance of power'.

  7. 22 August 2013

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Preventing and tackling bullying

Ref: DFE-00160-2017

PDF, 491 KB, 19 pages

Advice for parents and carers on cyber bullying

Ref: DFE-00655-2014

PDF, 209 KB, 7 pages

Details

The main guidance document is for:

• school leaders
• school staff
• governing bodies

It applies to all schools and may also be useful for further education and community settings.

Preventing and tackling bullying and harassment of school staff is guidance to help schools protect and support their staff.

The advice for parents and carers is designed to help them prevent and respond to cyber bullying aimed at children and young people in their care.