Rights, respect, equality guidance: integrated impact assessment

Background

The Welsh Government is updating the statutory Rights, Respect, Equality (RRE) anti‑bullying guidance to ensure schools, local authorities and education settings have clear, practical and up‑to‑date advice on preventing and responding to bullying. The 2019 guidance needs revising to reflect new evidence, legislative changes and key policy commitments such as the Anti‑Racist Wales Action Plan, LGBTQ+ Action Plan, the RSE Code and the Whole School Approach to mental health and wellbeing. National evidence also shows that bullying has increased since 2021, with some groups, such as disabled learners, LGBTQ+ learners and those with ALN disproportionately affected.

Long term

The updated guidance will support long‑term improvements in learner wellbeing, safety and engagement. Bullying can harm mental health, attendance and attainment. Strengthening prevention and early intervention will help create safer learning environments and support children’s long‑term outcomes. The guidance complements wider reforms including Curriculum for Wales, ALN implementation and the Whole School Approach.

Prevention

Preventing bullying is central to the updated guidance. Clearer definitions, stronger expectations and improved signposting help schools recognise concerns earlier and intervene appropriately. More consistent recording and monitoring also support proactive identification of emerging issues.

Integration

The guidance aligns with Welsh Government priorities across education, health, equality and safeguarding. It connects strongly with the Anti‑Racist Wales Action Plan, LGBTQ+ Action Plan, Equality Act 2010, ALN legislation, RSE Code, Whole School Approach and attendance improvement priorities. It contributes to several well‑being goals, including a more equal, healthier Wales.

Collaboration

The updated guidance has been developed through collaboration with schools, local authorities, Estyn, anti‑bullying specialists, race equality organisations, LGBTQ+ groups, mental health organisations and disability and ALN groups. Their insights shaped improvements to definitions, processes and expectations. Collaboration will continue through implementation and monitoring.

Involvement

Children and young people have played a central role in shaping this update. Engagement activities captured their experiences and priorities, including the need to feel safe, be listened to and know what will happen when they report bullying. A young person’s Easy Read version will also be published.

Impact

The guidance is expected to have a positive impact by strengthening protections for learners, improving consistency and ensuring more effective responses to bullying. It enhances children’s rights relating to safety, dignity, non‑discrimination and participation. No negative impacts have been identified.

Cost and savings

No significant new costs are anticipated. The guidance clarifies existing duties rather than introducing new ones. Over time, improved prevention may reduce exclusions, improve attendance and reduce demand for specialist support.

Mechanism

The work involves updating and publishing statutory guidance under existing powers. No new legislation or Regulatory Impact Assessment is required.

Section 8.1 

How have people most likely to be affected by the proposal been involved in developing it?

Children and young people were closely involved through workshops, online feedback and engagement with the Young Wales Advisory Board.

Stakeholders representing protected groups, disabilities, ALN, mental health, race equality and LGBTQ+ communities also contributed. Practitioners and Welsh‑medium stakeholders helped ensure bilingual relevance.

Section 8.2

What are the most significant impacts, positive and negative?

The guidance strengthens protections for children and young people, particularly those most affected by identity‑based bullying. It contributes positively to learner safety, wellbeing, rights and inclusion. Cultural, Welsh language and economic impacts are generally positive or minimal. Environmental impacts are negligible.

People and children’s rights

The guidance strengthens protections for children and young people by providing clearer definitions of bullying, including identity based and prejudice related forms such as racism, homophobia, transphobia and misogyny. Improved clarity on roles, responsibilities, early intervention and recording will support a more consistent national approach. Learners who are disproportionately affected by bullying, including LGBTQ+ children, disabled learners, those with additional learning needs and minority ethnic learners are expected to benefit most.

Engagement with children and young people identified recurring themes such as feeling unsafe, not being believed and uncertainty about reporting, these issues have been directly addressed in the updated guidance.

This activity supports the following UN Convention on the Rights of the Child principles:

• Right to non-discrimination (article 2).
• Commitment to the best interests of the child (article 3).
• Right to life, survival and development (article 6).
• Right to be heard (article 12).

Culture and Welsh language

The updated guidance supports the development of positive school cultures grounded in respect, diversity and inclusion. Clearer expectations for addressing prejudice and harmful attitudes will help improve community cohesion and reduce discriminatory behaviours.

By ensuring the guidance is fully bilingual and culturally appropriate, the Welsh Government supports Cymraeg 2050 objectives. The guidance promotes respect and reduces the risk of Welsh speaking learners experiencing bullying related to language use.

Economy

Reducing bullying can strengthen learners’ engagement and attainment, contributing positively to long term educational outcomes and future workforce skills. Improved mental health, attendance and participation create indirect economic benefits.

There may be minimal short term costs associated with familiarisation and training, however, schools already have statutory duties relating to behaviour and safeguarding and the guidance is designed to complement existing practice rather than create additional burdens.

Environment

The environmental impact is limited. Nevertheless, the commitment to digital first dissemination and reduced paperwork supports sustainable practices and efficient resource use, aligning with the broader sustainable development principles underpinning the Well being of Future Generations Act.

Themes emerging from involvement

Children and young people emphasised the importance of:

• clearer definitions and examples of bullying
• confidence when reporting
• knowing what action will follow
• stronger responses to identity‑based bullying
• consistent recording and monitoring

Stakeholders raised the need for guidance that:

• clarifies responsibilities across schools and local authorities
• improves advice on prejudice related incidents
• supports whole school wellbeing and safeguarding approaches
• is practical, proportionate and aligned with existing duties

Negative impacts

No direct negative impacts have been identified. The main risk is the perception of increased workload during implementation. However, the guidance is designed to align with current statutory responsibilities and reduce duplication. Professional learning, existing networks and clear templates will mitigate any transitional burdens.

Overall, the updated guidance contributes strongly to the seven well being goals, particularly A More Equal Wales, A Healthier Wales, and A Wales of Cohesive Communities.

Section 8.3 

In light of the impacts identified, how will the proposal: 

• maximise contribution to our well-being objectives and the seven well-being goals?
• avoid, reduce or mitigate any negative impacts?

The updated guidance maximises contribution to the seven well‑being goals by promoting safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments. Its impacts align with the assessments completed as part of the Children’s Rights Impact Assessment, Equality Impact Assessment and Welsh Language Impact Assessment.

A more equal Wales

The guidance reduces inequality by improving protection for groups disproportionately affected by bullying. The Equality Impact Assessment provides additional evidence of how these reforms reduce discrimination and strengthen equitable outcomes.

A healthier Wales

Preventing bullying supports improved mental health and emotional wellbeing. Early identification of concerns reduces escalation.

A Wales of cohesive communities

The guidance strengthens social cohesion by tackling prejudice, improving relationships and encouraging community partnerships.

A prosperous Wales

Improved attendance, engagement and attainment contribute positively to skills development and long term outcomes.

A Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language

The bilingual guidance reinforces the rights of Welsh speaking learners and supports inclusion. The Welsh Language Impact Assessment identifies how respect is promoted and strengthens the national approach to preventing prejudice-related bullying, which can be related to language use or cultural identity.

A globally responsible Wales

The guidance promotes equality, children’s rights and anti discrimination principles.

Mitigation measures

Potential pressure on staff capacity is mitigated by:

• alignment with existing statutory duties
• support through local authority and regional networks
• professional learning opportunities
• clear templates for recording and reporting
• accessible versions for learners, parents and carers

Strengthening contribution

Welsh Government will:

• continue engaging with learners and protected groups
• monitor equality impacts through the EIA
• monitor rights impacts via CRIA review processes
• monitor language impacts through the WLIA
• support consistent practice across the system

Section 8.4

How will the impact of the proposal be monitored and evaluated as it progresses and when it concludes?

The impact of the updated guidance will be monitored through ongoing engagement with schools and local authorities. Officials will gather feedback through existing networks, including wellbeing and safeguarding leads and will consider relevant Estyn findings. Monitoring will focus on consistency of implementation, recording practices, trends in bullying incidents and learner feedback. Updated versions of the guidance and associated impact assessments will be published as required.