Students

Hi, thanks for visiting our Friendly Schools & Families website for students.

This site is designed with information to help students to understand and deal with bullying.

Most students do not bully other students in schools. However, many students will be effected in some way by bullying during their time at school. They may not be bullied themselves or bully someone else but many students will see or know about someone who has been bullied or is bullied now.

The Friendly Schools & Families Program has been developed to help stop bullying in schools. We know while it's mostly fun being at school, it can be tough if you are having friendship or bullying problems.

We're here because like so many others in your life, including your parents and teachers, we care about you.

We know that there is only a small number of students in schools who do bully others over and over. However, our research clearly shows that bullying can have negative effects on all those involved if it is not stopped.

Because the aim of this Program is to prevent bullying from happening it is important to look at why most students don’t get involved in bullying. This helps us to understand how to help students not bully.

Some students don’t bully because they just don’t have the power over others to do so. However, many students who have the power choose not to use it in a negative way.

Why do most students not bully others?

They do this because:

They have good social skills so they can make friends and be happy without bullying.
They think bullying is wrong. Most students in our surveys, said that they would feel ashamed of themselves and their parents would be really upset with them if they bullied.
They don’t feel they need to bully. Students who feel good about themselves and enjoy school say they don’t feel the need to bully.
They are too busy to think about it. Students who are involved in activities and are enjoying what they are doing are usually not interested in bullying.
They have strong, supportive friendships groups. Students who have happy and supportive friends are found to be far less likely to bullying or to be bullied.
They believe that bullying isn’t worth it. Some students may sometimes feel like bullying but don’t because they know the consequences will be bad. For example, they will get into trouble at school and at home and/or their bullying behaviour will make them look bad to friends, family or teachers.