These assessments show what action government has taken to carry out the United Nation’s (UN’s) recommendations, within the scope of our methodology.
They include recommendations from the UN committees associated with the human rights treaties that the UK government has signed and ratified (agreed to follow), which are:
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
- International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
- Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CAT)
Overview of action taken
Ending bullying and discrimination in schools
What we assessed in the recommendation
Do more to prevent discrimination, bullying and violence in schools. This should include online bullying and bullying based on someone’s race, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, disability, and migration or other status.
Take action to:
- address the root causes of bullying
- raise awareness of the harm that bullying causes
- put in place early detection and prevention systems
- make sure teachers have mandatory training
- promote understanding and tolerance
- regularly collect and monitor disaggregated data on bullying behaviour
These actions should be developed in consultation with children.
ICESCR concluding observations 2025, paragraph 57:
The Committee recommends that the State Party, along with the devolved governments of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales: (e) Take effective measures to ensure the protection of all children from bullying, including cyberbullying, and violence in schools and strengthen efforts to prevent those phenomena and promote understanding and tolerance.
CERD concluding observations 2024, paragraph 46:
The Committee recommends that the State party: (d) Increase efforts to eliminate racial discrimination and racist bullying in schools and adopt adequate measures, including awareness-raising on the harmful effects of bullying, early detection mechanisms, mandatory training for teachers, the systematic collection of disaggregated data and the compulsory recording and monitoring of bullying behaviour.
CRC concluding observations 2023, paragraph 47:
Noting with concern inequalities in educational attainment and outcomes for children in disadvantaged situations, the Committee recommends that the State party: Increase efforts to eliminate discrimination and bullying, including cyberbullying, especially on the grounds of race, sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics, disability, migration or other status in the school context and ensure that such measures: (i) are adequately resourced and developed in consultation with children; (ii) address the root causes of bullying; and (iii) encompass prevention, early detection mechanisms, the empowerment of children, mandatory training for teachers, intervention protocols, consistent and robust recording and monitoring of bullying behaviour and awareness-raising on the harmful effects of bullying.
The CRC recommendation was made in June 2023, the CERD recommendation was made in September 2024 and the ICESCR recommendation was made in March 2025.
Preventing discrimination and bullying in schools
In February 2024, the UK government published the updated Behaviour in Schools 2024 non-statutory guidance. This guidance sets out that school leaders, staff, governing bodies, trust boards and proprietors in all maintained schools, academies, free schools and independent schools in England should determine measures to prevent all forms of bullying (including cyberbullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying). Those responsible for the management of an academy or independent school must ensure that an effective anti-bullying strategy is developed and implemented to prevent bullying as far as reasonably practicable.
In July 2025, the UK government published a notice of tender, indicating that it is planning to procure a resource to support schools in developing their practices related to behaviour, including bullying, informed by an evidence-based and expert-led best practice review. In March 2026, the UK government appointed a supplier to lead on the creation of the behaviour and anti-bullying toolkit. The behaviour and anti-bullying toolkit will be reviewed via an independent evaluation, with aim of being rolled out nationally to all schools.
In September 2025, Ofsted published updated guidance on school inspections, which states that inspectors will consider whether schools are creating an environment where bullying, unlawful discrimination and harassment are dealt with quickly, consistently and effectively. This should include recognition that bullying may be motivated by prejudice against particular groups, for example on the grounds of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability. It did not specifically reference migration status.
In September 2025, the UK government updated its Keeping children safe in education 2025 (KCSIE) statutory guidance. This states that all school staff should be aware of their school’s behaviour policy, which should include measures to prevent bullying and prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying. It refers to guidance on Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (RSHE), which requires schools to teach about stereotyping, prejudice, equality, different types of bullying, including cyberbullying, its impact and how to get help. It also advises that the curriculum should be informed by meaningful engagement with pupils.
The KCSIE guidance also highlights schools’ obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), which apply to all protected characteristics.
In February 2026, the UK government launched a consultation on an updated version of the KCSIE guidance. This proposed additional content included the importance of preventative education and zero tolerance to all forms of prejudice including racism, misogyny and sexual harassment. The final version of this guidance is expected in September 2026.
Preventing online bullying
Since the CRC recommendation was made in June 2023, the UK government has passed the Online Safety Act 2023. The act requires social media companies and search services to take steps to protect children from harmful content online. Some of this content includes content related to bullying.
Chapter 6 of the act designates the Office of Communications (OFCOM) as the body responsible for preparing and issuing codes of practice on the operation of the act. The act requires OFCOM to consult people who represent the interests of children when preparing or amending codes of practice. OFCOM consulted with 15,000 children between March and July 2024, when preparing the codes of practice on protecting children.
The KCSIE guidance states that measures to prevent bullying should include cyber bullying. Launched in February 2026, the consultation also proposes additional content be added to the guidance on safeguarding in relation to the use of AI in education.
Teacher training on preventing and addressing bullying
Between August 2021 and March 2024, the UK government provided over £3 million to five anti-bullying organisations to support schools and colleges. Activities under this programme included:
- developing resources
- training for staff and students to address bullying in school and online
- interventions with a focus on bullying of pupils with protected characteristics
The KSCIE guidance states that staff should undergo safeguarding and child protection training, including online safety.
From September 2025, training based on the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF) has been implemented. The ITTECF sets out the minimum training that every trainee and early career teacher should receive. It also states that providers of initial teacher training and early career training must use the framework to create their curricula. This includes incorporating content on bullying, under the Managing Behaviour section of the ITTECF.
Collecting and monitoring disaggregated data on bullying
There remains no legal obligation on schools to collect data on bullying, and the UK government does not collect data on specific incidents of bullying. Young people’s perceptions of bullying in England are monitored by the government at a high-level through surveys. The most recent survey on national behaviour was published in November 2025. This includes data on the most common reason for the bullying, as perceived by the pupil, which includes bullying on the basis of protected characteristics.
Assessment up to date as of June 2026.
Discrimination, bullying and harassment of children
What we assessed in the recommendation
Implement policies to prevent bullying, hate speech and hate crimes against disabled children. Make sure schools fulfil their public sector equality duty to challenge racist bullying and promote respect for diversity, including through staff training. Protect and support children who are bullied, harassed or discriminated against for their sexual orientation or gender identity.
CRC concluding observations 2023, paragraph 20:
The Committee reiterates its previous recommendations and urges the State party: (e) To ensure that children who experience discrimination, bullying or harassment in relation to their sexual orientation or gender identity receive protection and support, including through targeted anti-bullying measures.
CERD concluding observations 2016, paragraph 35:
The Committee recommends that the State party: (b) Ensure that schools comply with their public sector equality duty under the Equality Act 2010 and section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to challenge racist bullying and to promote respect for diversity, including through the training of educational personnel.
CRPD concluding observations 2017, paragraph 21:
The Committee recommends that the State party, in close consultation with organizations representing children with disabilities, develop and implement policies aimed at: (e) Strengthening measures to prevent bullying, hate speech and hate crime against children with disabilities.
Since the recommendations were made in 2016, 2017 and 2023 respectively, the UK government has introduced targeted anti-bullying measures. These measures aim to protect and support children who experience discrimination, bullying or harassment in relation to their race, disability and sexual orientation or gender identity in England.
In 2017, the Department for Education (DfE) published advice on preventing and tackling bullying for headteachers, staff and governing bodies. This advice recognises that some groups of children, such as those with Special Educational Needs (SEN), are more likely to be bullied, may face more barriers to reporting and need more support to deal with the impact of bullying. The advice explained that the actions of successful schools include providing effective training. It also explained that schools can invest in specialised skills to understand the needs of pupils, such as those with SEN.
In 2019, the DfE introduced statutory guidance on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education. Curriculum content includes teaching about bullying, the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 and ‘that everyone is unique and equal’.
Between 2021 and 2024, the DfE provided over £3 million of funding to anti-bullying organisations. This included funding for projects that were focused on particular groups. For example, there were projects that focused on homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying. Activities included training and support for children and teachers. The DfE’s response to a written question on neurodiversity outlines these actions.
The DfE has updated its statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, most recently in 2024. Schools in England must have due regard to this guidance when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. This guidance refers schools to consider the Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance on the Public Sector Equality Duty when developing safeguarding policies and procedures. It contains details on safeguarding pupils from bullying and harassment because of their disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment and race. The DfE guidance also signposts to third-party resources for support.
The DfE updated the non-statutory Behaviour in schools guidance in 2024. This sets out that, in developing the required behaviour policy, headteachers of maintained schools must determine measures that aim to ‘prevent all forms of bullying’. This includes prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying. The proprietor of an academy or independent school must ensure that an effective anti-bullying strategy is developed and implemented to prevent bullying as far as reasonably practicable.
In 2024, the Disability Action Plan set out that the Disability Unit and partners will develop new products, such as signposting to training for teachers and teaching assistants. This includes resources on identifying bullying of disabled children and its impact.
Assessment up to date as of December 2024.
Page updates
Published:
29 January 2025
Last updated:
27 August 2026