AQW 16961/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 17/10/2024
Answered On Date: 24/10/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education when his Department will publish bullying data and trends captured by schools, as required through the Addressing Bullying in Schools Act (Northern Ireland) 2016.

Answer:

Under the Addressing Bullying in Schools Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (the Act), a school’s Board of Governors is responsible for the implementation of the Act. Schools are required to record data on incidents or alleged incidents of bullying type behaviour, their motivation and their outcome. The legislation does not include the requirement for schools to share the data that they record with the Department.

The 2024 Schools Omnibus Survey will include questions in relation to addressing bullying type behaviour in schools and compliance with the Act. There are also questions on bullying type behaviour, pastoral care and positive relationships being piloted this term (September – December 2024) as part of Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) inspections.