Lynne Neagle MS, Cabinet Secretary for Education
Last November I made an Oral Statement in Plenary to mark anti-bullying week in Wales, in which I restated our ongoing commitment to tackling bullying and its impacts.
Bullying is unacceptable in all settings. The impacts, particularly on children and young people, can last a lifetime, causing significant emotional and mental health issues. I firmly believe that we should take a zero tolerance attitude to bullying, and that our schools and wider education settings should be working to supporting the victims as well as working with the perpetrator, helping them both through restorative practices to find a positive way forward.
Today I’m pleased to announce the publication of the consultation on our statutory anti-bullying guidance ‘Rights, respect, equality’.
By strengthening our approaches to preventing and responding to all forms of prejudice-related bullying, including online bullying and aggression, we will ensure our schools and education settings remain safe spaces for all. Promoting positive behaviour in and outside of our schools in Wales, we continue to build resilience, nurturing respectful relationships and countering harmful discriminatory attitudes.
Our differences should never be the reason for someone to be bullied, or mistreated.