Anti-Bullying Week 2026: quick facts
- Dates: Monday 16 to Friday 20 November 2026
- Theme: Break the Silence
- Odd Socks Day: Monday 16 November 2026
- HIP workshop: live online for primary-school pupils in P4-P7
The Anti-Bullying Alliance organises the campaign in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Schools elsewhere should check the campaign and guidance that apply in their setting rather than assuming every national week uses the same date.
Free Anti-Bullying Week 2026 posters
Download four free A4 posters for primary classrooms and corridors. The pack covers what bullying is and what it is not, words pupils can use to ask for help, safe upstander choices and the Break the Silence campaign dates.
Preview and download the free anti-bullying poster pack. No form or email address is required.
What does Break the Silence mean for schools?
Break the Silence gives schools a useful way to talk about why pupils may not ask for help. A child may be worried about making the situation worse, being called a tell-tale, losing friends or not being believed. Some pupils may not yet have the language to explain whether they are experiencing bullying, conflict or one-off unkind behaviour.
The campaign message should therefore be practical: pupils can describe what happened even when they are unsure which label fits; adults will listen and check immediate safety; and the school will explain what happens next.
A simple five-day primary-school plan
Monday: use Odd Socks Day to explore difference and belonging. Tuesday: teach what bullying is and what it is not. Wednesday: practise safe bystander choices. Thursday: discuss group chats, screenshots and online help-seeking. Friday: review the school reporting route and one action pupils can carry forward.
Keep the same trusted-adult language across the week. Repetition helps pupils remember a safe next step when a real situation feels difficult.
Primary-school activity ideas
Use short fictional scenarios that ask pupils to identify what happened, whether there is a pattern, who has power in the situation and what help is needed. A trusted-adult map can then show where pupils can seek help during lessons, break, lunch, clubs and online situations that affect school.
Other useful activities include sorting bullying, conflict and one-off harm; rewriting a bystander scenario with safer choices; creating a display of help-seeking phrases; and checking whether pupils can name the school reporting route from memory. The primary anti-bullying activities guide gives step-by-step versions.
Assembly and classroom follow-up
An Anti-Bullying Week assembly should create shared language without putting individual pupils on the spot. Define bullying carefully, explain how it differs from everyday disagreement, connect Break the Silence with trusted adults and close with the exact route pupils should use if they need help.
Classroom follow-up is where pupils practise the message. Use fictional examples and make a private support route available afterwards. Never ask children to disclose a personal incident in front of peers.
Brief staff and inform parents
A short staff briefing should cover the theme, the school definition, the reporting route, who records concerns and what to do if a pupil speaks during a lesson. Consistency matters more than producing a long campaign document.
Parent communication should give the dates, explain the activity and name the school contact route. Families can support the message by asking what makes it easier for someone to speak up, without pressing a child to disclose in a group conversation.
Book the live online P4-P7 workshop
HIP Psychology offers one focused Anti-Bullying Week format: a live online Hip N Healthy workshop for primary-school pupils in P4-P7. It helps children understand what bullying is, what it is not, how it differs from conflict and disagreement, and what to do when something is not right.
See what is included in the live online workshop or use the booking button to continue directly to the official HIP Psychology page.
What should happen after the week?
Review whether pupils can explain the key distinction, name a safe bystander action and identify the reporting route. Staff can note where pupils were confused and where procedures need clearer language.
Anti-Bullying Week does not prove that bullying has reduced. Its value comes from clearer understanding connected with consistent policy, recording, support and follow-up throughout the year.