Anti-Bullying Week is a significant event in the school calendar, aiming to raise awareness about bullying and encourage everyone to take action against it. This year, it takes place from 11th to 15th November, with the inspiring theme ‘Choose Respect’. Highlights of Anti-Bullying Week One of the most engaging activities during the week is Odd Socks Day on Tuesday, 12th November. On this day, students and staff wear odd socks to celebrate uniqueness and remind everyone that differences should be respected and valued. Schools across the country are also working hard to promote anti-bullying messages through campaigns and by encouraging pupils to become Anti-Bullying Ambassadors. Understanding the Role of Anti-Bullying Ambassadors This year’s assembly resources and posters feature staff and students engaging in Anti-Bullying Ambassador Training at Normanton Common Primary Academy. Anti-Bullying Ambassadors play a crucial role in schools by promoting positive behaviour, helping to create a safe environment, and supporting their peers. The Diana Anti-Bullying Ambassador Award recognises students who make a difference by actively promoting respect and kindness among their classmates. What is Bullying? According to the Diana Anti-Bullying Award, bullying is defined as ‘repeated, negative behaviour that is intended to make others feel upset, uncomfortable or unsafe.’ It is important for students to understand that bullying isn’t just a one-off incident—it happens more than once and is done on purpose to cause distress. Everyone has a responsibility to stand against such behaviours, both for themselves and others. The Impact of Bullying Bullying can affect anyone in a school community. It impacts a person’s health, wellbeing, and learning, and can lead to feelings of loneliness and fear. Approximately one child in every classroom faces bullying each day, which emphasises the importance of addressing it early. Reflection and open discussion in classrooms can help students and staff recognise the issue and take collective action. Why Anti-Bullying Week Matters Since 2002, Anti-Bullying Week has grown in scale, with 80% of UK schools now taking part. The week raises awareness about both face-to-face and online bullying, gives children a chance to share their experiences, and educates everyone about ways to prevent and tackle bullying. Participation helps foster kinder and stronger communities within schools. Exploring the Theme: ‘Choose Respect’ This year’s theme, ‘Choose Respect’, encourages everyone to think about their actions and how they treat others. Respect means recognising differences, encouraging others, promoting kindness, and treating everyone fairly. Choosing respect can help prevent bullying because it focuses on positive behaviour and inclusion. A highlight is a video featuring celebrities discussing the importance of respect and how it relates to anti-bullying efforts. What Can You Do If You Are Being Bullied? If you experience bullying, it’s important to know that you are not alone. There are steps you can take, such as talking to a trusted adult, seeking help from Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, and supporting each other. It also helps to reflect on the situation, practise kindness towards yourself, and reach out for support when needed. Being an Upstander One of the important messages of Anti-Bullying Week is the power of being an ‘Upstander’. While a bystander does nothing, an upstander actively helps stop bullying or supports those affected. Schools encourage everyone to take action, whether by comforting their peers, reporting harmful behaviour, or joining in anti-bullying initiatives. Activities and Classroom Discussions As part of Anti-Bullying Week, students participate in a range of activities such as creating posters about kindness and respect, discussing the impact of bullying, and expressing their feelings through art. A useful classroom exercise includes folding a piece of paper in half and exploring emotions like feeling ‘upset, uncomfortable, unsafe’ on one side and ‘happy, comfortable, safe’ on the other through words and colours. Creative Ways to Prevent Bullying Schools can raise awareness through posters, assemblies, social action campaigns, and involving ambassadors in peer support. Encouraging students to share their experiences, discuss what respect means, and promote strategies for diffusing tension are effective ways to reduce bullying. Reflecting on statistics, such as 30% of children reporting being bullied in the last year and 17% experiencing online bullying, can help students understand the scope of the issue and why continued action is vital. Promoting Respect Through Poetry This week, classes are encouraged to create acrostic poems using the theme word ‘RESPECT’. The acrostic might look like: Recognise the differences and similarities in each of us Encourage others Share how you would like to be supported Promote kindness to others and yourself Educate others and share your experiences Create an inclusive environment Treat others as you wish to be treated Sharing poems helps children communicate what respect means to them and encourages a positive classroom culture. Towards a Kinder School Community Anti-Bullying Week is a time for reflection, discussion, and action. By fostering respect, supporting one another, and taking steps to address and prevent bullying, schools can help everyone feel safe and valued. Whether through creative activities, open dialogue, or becoming an Upstander, every action counts towards building a more inclusive and respectful school culture. Explore the latest Picture News resources here: https://picture-news.co.uk/free-sample Join our latest discussion here: https://picture-news.co.uk/discuss Explore our recent events and training here: https://picture-news.co.uk/training
