Addressing Bullying Act NI: A Practical School Guide is a practical guide for Northern Ireland school leaders, pastoral staff and Boards of Governors.
Northern Ireland schools need anti-bullying work that connects statutory duties with day-to-day practice. That means clear policy, consistent recording, visible pupil routes for help and support after incidents.
The goal is to help schools move from awareness into clear action: what pupils should know, what staff should do and how leaders can review whether the approach is working.
Why this matters
Anti-bullying, online safety and peer relationship work has the greatest impact when it is joined to pastoral care, safeguarding, pupil voice and everyday classroom routines. A single assembly can raise attention, but pupils and staff need follow-up routes they can actually use.
Key decisions for leaders
Before launching a workshop, policy update or campaign week, it helps to agree a small number of decisions so the work is clear and safe.
- How staff will apply the school definition of bullying in real scenarios
- How online behaviour outside school may affect school life
- How governors will monitor policy effectiveness
- How the school supports pupils who experience bullying and pupils who engage in bullying behaviour
Practical activities schools can use
The activities below are designed to make the topic concrete for pupils and staff without turning sensitive experiences into public disclosure.
- Brief staff using common school scenarios rather than abstract definitions
- Review incident records for repeated locations, times or peer groups
- Include pupil-friendly language in assemblies and tutor time
- Schedule a governor or senior leadership review before Anti-Bullying Week
How to keep the work safe
Schools should make reporting routes visible, protect confidentiality where possible, follow safeguarding procedures and avoid asking pupils to share personal experiences in front of peers. Staff should know what to do if a pupil discloses harm after a session.
What pupils need to hear
Pupils need simple language: what counts as harm, what they can do if they are worried, which adults can help and why silence can leave problems hidden. They also need reassurance that asking for help is not overreacting.
What staff need to practise
Staff need first-response language, recording confidence, scenario practice and clarity about when to involve pastoral, safeguarding or senior leadership colleagues. Training should reduce uncertainty rather than add another task to a busy day.
How leaders can review impact
Useful review questions include whether pupils know where to report concerns, whether staff feel more confident responding, whether repeated locations or groups are appearing in records and whether pupil voice has led to visible change.
How HIP Psychology can support this work
HIP Psychology works with NI schools on anti-bullying workshops, staff briefings and wider wellbeing support.
HIP Psychology works with schools across Northern Ireland and Ireland through pupil workshops, staff training, assemblies, reflective supervision and whole-school wellbeing support.
Useful guidance to align with
Schools can connect this work with current guidance and resources, including Department of Education Addressing Bullying in Schools Act guidance, statutory guidance for schools and Boards of Governors and Department of Education effective responses to bullying behaviour.
Related HIP Psychology resources
Useful related HIP resources include anti-bullying workshops for schools, anti-bullying programme for schools, bullying prevention workshops, Anti-Bullying Week 2026 schools guide, Anti-Bullying Week activities, cyberbullying in schools, friendship issues in schools, playground friendship support.
Need help planning the next step? Contact HIP Psychology to discuss workshops, staff training or whole-school wellbeing support.
FAQs
What should schools do first with Addressing Bullying Act NI schools?
Start by agreeing the purpose, the pupils or staff affected, the safeguarding route and the follow-up process before launching new activities.
How can schools make this practical for staff?
Use realistic scenarios, short scripts, clear recording expectations and a named route for advice when a concern is sensitive or complex.
Should pupils be involved?
Yes. Pupil voice helps schools understand where barriers, silence or unsafe spaces exist, but feedback must be handled safely and acted upon.
How can HIP Psychology help?
HIP Psychology can support schools with pupil workshops, staff training, assemblies, policy review conversations and whole-school wellbeing planning.