Define scope and regional context
State who the policy applies to, where it applies and how online behaviour is handled when it affects school life. Use the current official framework for the school's jurisdiction rather than copying language from another region.
Northern Ireland schools should use the Addressing Bullying in Schools Act and current Education Authority guidance. Schools in the Republic of Ireland should use current Bí Cineálta procedures and related safeguarding guidance.
Use a definition staff can apply
The policy should help staff distinguish bullying from conflict or one-off unkind behaviour while making clear that serious one-off harm still receives a response. Include repetition or potential repetition, impact and power in language appropriate to the setting.
Give examples of physical, verbal, relational, prejudice-based and online behaviour, but avoid a list that becomes too narrow to capture new patterns.
Make reporting routes accessible
Pupils, parents and staff should know who receives a concern, which route is monitored and what happens after the first report. Offer more than one safe route where possible, including a private option for pupils who find direct conversation difficult.
Separate the workshop enquiry route from incident reporting. A school policy should point to the school's own pastoral and safeguarding contacts.
Specify recording and follow-up
Describe what staff record, where the record is stored, who reviews it and how patterns are identified. Record the behaviour and action taken rather than relying only on labels.
Include follow-up dates. The school needs to know whether the behaviour has stopped, whether the pupil feels safer and whether further support or safeguarding action is required.
Build in consultation and review
Pupil and parent consultation can show whether the policy is understandable and whether reporting feels realistic. Staff feedback can reveal where procedures are interpreted differently across departments or phases.
Set a review schedule and name the role responsible. Use the anti-bullying policy checklist to structure the discussion, subject to the approval status shown on the resource page.