Quick answer
An anti-bullying policy defines bullying, explains how the school prevents it, sets out how students and parents can report it, describes how staff investigate and respond, and explains how both the targeted student and the student who bullied will be supported. It should cover cyberbullying and be reviewed yearly. CBSE asks schools to set up anti-bullying committees.
- Bullying is repeated, intentional harm with an imbalance of power.
- Prevention, reporting, response, and support all need clear steps.
- Cyberbullying must be included.
- CBSE schools are expected to have an anti-bullying committee.
How should schools define bullying?
Bullying is behaviour that is intended to hurt, is usually repeated, and involves an imbalance of power. It can be physical, verbal, social (exclusion, rumours), or online. One-off conflicts between equals are not bullying, though they still need a response.
What forms does bullying take?
| Form | Examples |
|---|---|
| Physical | Hitting, pushing, damaging belongings |
| Verbal | Name-calling, threats, insults |
| Social | Exclusion, spreading rumours |
| Cyberbullying | Hurtful messages, sharing images, fake accounts |
| Identity-based | Targeting caste, religion, gender, disability, or appearance |
How can schools prevent bullying?
- Teach kindness and respect in assemblies and lessons.
- Supervise hotspots: corridors, toilets, buses, and playgrounds.
- Build social emotional learning into routines.
- Train staff to notice and respond.
- Run student surveys to find hidden problems.
- Teach online safety; see cyber safety for students.
What should staff do when bullying is reported?
- Listen. Take every report seriously and reassure the student.
- Make safe. Take immediate steps to protect the student.
- Investigate. Speak to those involved and witnesses separately; record facts.
- Act. Apply consequences in line with the discipline policy.
- Inform parents. Contact parents of both students as appropriate.
- Support. Offer counselling to the targeted student and help the student who bullied change behaviour.
- Follow up. Check after a week and a month that it has stopped.
What does an anti-bullying committee do?
- Oversees the policy and its review.
- Receives and monitors serious cases.
- Organises awareness activities.
- Reports patterns to school leaders.
CBSE guidelines ask schools to form a committee including senior staff, a counsellor, and parent and student representatives. Check current CBSE circulars.
Why must bullying incidents be recorded?
Records show repeated behaviour, prove that the school acted, and help identify patterns. Keep them confidential and accessible only to authorised staff. A school system with role-based permissions and an audit trail, such as Hudace SchoolOS, keeps sensitive records secure.
Frequently asked questions
What is an anti-bullying policy?
A school document that defines bullying and sets out prevention, reporting, response, and support.
What is the difference between bullying and conflict?
Bullying is repeated, intentional, and involves an imbalance of power; conflict is a disagreement between equals.
Do CBSE schools need an anti-bullying committee?
CBSE has issued guidelines asking schools to set one up.
How should parents report bullying?
Contact the class teacher or the named staff member, with details and dates.
Is cyberbullying the school’s responsibility?
When it affects students and school life, schools should respond and work with parents.
What support do bullied students need?
Safety, someone to talk to, counselling, and regular follow-up.
Should the student who bullied be punished?
There should be consequences, along with support to change behaviour.