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Bullying

Key child protection statistics

These statistics were compiled by the NSPCC Child Protection Awareness and Diversity Department in December 2007.

31% of children experienced bullying by their peers during childhood, a further 7% were discriminated against and 14% were made to feel different or 'like an outsider'. 43% experienced at least one of these things during childhood.
Cawson, P. et al. (2000) Child maltreatment in the United Kingdom: a study of the prevalence of child abuse and neglect. London: NSPCC. p.26.
Children who were abused or neglected by their parents were consistently more likely than others to experience bullying, discrimination, or being made to feel different by their peers. For example, 70% of those who were sexually abused by parents were also bullied by other children. 60% of those who were physically abused by parents, and 58% of those who experienced absence of physical care, also reported being bullied.
Cawson, P. (2002) Child maltreatment in the family: the experience of a national sample of young people. London: NSPCC. p.61-62.
A quarter of children bullied by their peers reported that they suffered long term harmful effects lasting into adulthood.
Cawson, P. et al. (2000) Child maltreatment in the United Kingdom: a study of the prevalence of child abuse and neglect. London: NSPCC. p.30.
Research for ChildLine and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) found that just over half (54%) of both primary and secondary school children thought that bullying was 'a big problem' or 'quite a big problem' in their school. Just over half (51%) of Year 5 students (aged 9-10) reported that they had been bullied during the preceding term compared with just over a quarter (28%) of Year 8 students (aged 12-13). 15% of primary school students, and 12% of secondary school students said that they had both bullied other children and been bullied themselves in the last year.
Oliver, C. and Kandappa, M. (2003) Tackling bullying: listening to the views of children and young people. Summary report (PDF). London: DfES and ChildLine.
Around a third of boys (35%) and a quarter of girls (26%) admit they have bullied other children 'a little' and/or 'a lot'.
Katz, A. et al. (2001) Bullying in Britain: testimonies from teenagers. East Molesey, Surrey: Young Voice. p.9.
Research involving 2,300 pupils aged 10-14 from schools across England found that 30% of children did not tell anyone that they had been bullied. This percentage was higher for boys and older children.
Smith, P. and Shu, S. (2000) What good schools can do about bullying: findings from a survey in English schools after a decade of research and action. Childhood 7(2): 193-212. p.204.
Research with 11 to 19 year olds found that 1 in 5 young people (20%) had experienced bullying or threats via e-mail, internet chatroom or text message. Bullying using text messaging was the most common of these three forms of bullying, experienced by 14% of young people. Almost three quarters (73%) of young people who had been bullied by email, internet chatroom or text message said they knew the person who bullied or threatened them, while a quarter (26%) said it was done by a stranger.
NCH and Tesco Mobile (2005) Putting U in the picture: mobile bullying survey 2005 (PDF)

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Bullying

Key child protection statistics

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