Lucy Adams

Parents in Scotland say current anti-bullying guidelines fail to protect victims, arguing that inclusion policies limit schools’ ability to impose consequences on aggressive pupils. Several families describe children being repeatedly assaulted while schools restrict victims’ movements rather than disciplining perpetrators. Advocates for legal reform want mandatory, consistent national procedures for handling bullying. Anti-bullying experts and teaching unions warn that creating new laws could increase bureaucracy and undermine early intervention, noting that consequences and exclusions remain available but are used sparingly. Local councils and the Scottish government state that bullying is taken seriously, outline existing safeguards, and highlight recently introduced guidance on managing violent behaviour.