AQW 10030/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 12/04/2024
Answered On Date: 19/04/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to identify an anti-bullying lead in all schools to coordinate anti-bullying policy.

Answer:

The Department funds the Addressing Bullying in Schools Implementation Team (ABSIT) within the Education Authority (EA). ABSIT support schools to implement the Addressing Bullying in Schools (Northern Ireland) Act 2016 (the Act).

ABSIT training provides for leadership roles within a school to coordinate the school’s addressing bullying policy and the team deliver a Level 3 training programme. Pastoral leaders from 147 schools including 120 post primary schools, 20 primary and seven special schools have completed this training to date. 110 school governors attended face to face training delivered by ABSIT from September 2023 - March 2024. All Board of Governors have access to online training which outlines their statutory role in overseeing the implementation of the Act.