London School Anti-Bullying Policy & Reporting Law

Education England 3 Minutes Read · published February 02, 2026 Flag of England

In London, England, schools must follow national guidance and local authority procedures when preventing and responding to bullying. This guide explains the legal framework schools use, how to report incidents, typical sanctions and appeal routes, and who enforces rules in London schools. It draws on current Department for Education guidance and exclusion procedures that apply to maintained schools, academies and local authorities operating in London.[1]

Contact the school promptly and record dates and witnesses.

Policy framework for schools

Schools in London are required to have clear anti-bullying and behaviour policies aligned with Department for Education guidance; these set expectations, reporting steps, and how the school investigates incidents. Policies typically cover prevention, supervision, sanctions, support for victims, and measures for perpetrators including behaviour plans and restorative practice.[2]

Penalties & Enforcement

Sanctions for bullying in schools are primarily disciplinary and administrative rather than monetary. Enforcement and oversight involve the headteacher, the school governing body/trust, and the local authority. Criminal conduct (assault, harassment, sexual offences, hate crimes) can be pursued by the police alongside school discipline.

  • Fines: not specified on the cited page for school disciplinary measures; schools do not levy statutory monetary fines under the DfE guidance[1].
  • Escalation: first, internal sanctions (detention, behaviour plans); repeated or serious incidents may lead to fixed-term exclusion or permanent exclusion; exact escalation ranges are not specified on the cited page[3].
  • Non-monetary sanctions: detentions, restorative meetings, internal isolation, fixed-term exclusion, permanent exclusion, referral to alternative provision, and police referral for criminal acts.
  • Enforcers and contacts: the headteacher enforces school policy; the governing body/trust reviews exclusions; the local authority has duties around fair provision and independent review panels for exclusions.[3]
  • Inspections and compliance: Ofsted inspects safeguarding and behaviour as part of school inspections and will consider how bullying is handled.
  • Appeals and review: parents can challenge exclusions through the governing body and, if eligible, an independent review panel; specific statutory time limits and procedural details are set out in the exclusions guidance and on the cited page[3].
Exclusion is a disciplinary, not a criminal, sanction though criminal acts should be reported to police.

Applications & Forms

The DfE guidance does not publish a single universal form for reporting bullying to the department; schools must notify parents and local authorities about exclusions following the statutory process and records should be retained by the school. If your local authority publishes an exclusion notification template, use that; otherwise there is no single DfE exclusion form published on the cited pages[3].

Action steps for parents and school staff

  • Record incidents promptly: dates, times, locations, witnesses and any messages or images.
  • Report to the school in writing (email or letter) and request the school’s anti-bullying policy and next steps.
  • If the school’s response is inadequate, escalate to the governing body/trust and the local authority; ask about independent review rights for exclusions.
  • Report criminal behaviour to the police if the incident involves assault, sexual offence, hate crime or a credible threat to safety.

FAQ

How do I report bullying at a London school?
Report the incident to the school promptly in writing, keep records, follow the school’s complaints or anti-bullying policy, and escalate to the governing body or local authority if unresolved.
Can a pupil be excluded for bullying?
Yes. Schools may use fixed-term or permanent exclusion for serious or repeated bullying; parents can challenge exclusions via governing body procedures and independent review panels.[3]
Who enforces bullying policy in schools?
Enforcement is carried out by the headteacher and governing body, with oversight from the local authority and Ofsted; criminal matters are enforced by the police.
Keep copies of emails and notes of conversations when escalating a complaint.

How-To

  1. Document the incident with dates, times, witnesses and evidence.
  2. Submit a written report to the school and request the anti-bullying policy and investigation timeline.
  3. If unsatisfied, file a formal complaint to the governing body or trust and request a review of the decision.
  4. Contact the local authority for advice and, where applicable, seek an independent review for exclusions.
  5. Report criminal conduct to the police and preserve evidence for any investigation.

Key Takeaways

  • Schools in London follow DfE guidance and local authority procedures for bullying.
  • Sanctions are mainly non-monetary; exclusions are the most serious school sanction.
  • Escalate unresolved issues to the governing body, local authority and, for criminal acts, the police.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Preventing and tackling bullying - Department for Education (guidance)
  2. [2] Behaviour in schools - Department for Education (statutory guidance)
  3. [3] School exclusion - Department for Education (statutory guidance)

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