The Role of Peers in Tackling Bullying in Schools

Abstract

Summary Bullying is a social phenomenon ‐ it requires more than one person to be involved. “Wherever there is a group of people, the potential for bullying to occur exists. Within schools this kind of behaviour is fairly prevalent amongst the pupil population. The power of peer group influence has been well documented (e.g. James et al, 1991) and the very nature of bullying behaviour suggests that interventions which are based upon peer influence are likely to be effective. This paper aims to briefly explore the social dynamics of bullying within the school context and describe interventions identified through work with schools involved in the Sheffield anti‐bullying project, funded by the Department for Education (DFE). The range of interventions referred to within this paper are those which attempt to mobilise the social context of the peer group as a way of preventing bullying occurring and intervening when it does.