Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues to encourage them and their Departments to mark Anti-bullying week 2021.

The Department for Education leads on anti-bullying policy in schools, and we work closely with the Anti-Bullying Alliance who organise Anti-Bullying Week in England and Wales. The Department for Education also works closely with other government departments including Government Equalities Office to co-ordinate anti-bullying week activity and have always maintained the stance that bullying should never be tolerated. The department has worked closely with cabinet colleagues to develop and share a number of resources and activity to support the week.

As part of the departments commitment to supporting schools to tackle bullying, on 16 November it was announced that the department has made £1.1million of funding available for five anti-bullying grants to support schools to tackle bullying. This includes projects targeting bullying of particular groups, such as those with SEND, those who are victims of hate-related bullying and homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) based bullying. Details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-support-for-schools-to-tackle-bullying.

The Department for Education has also participated in a range of media and social media activity in support of the week. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, and other ministers, including myself, have taken part in ‘Odd Socks Day’ which is a signatory, annual event that begins anti-bullying week with participation from schools and professionals across the sector. It is a celebration of the things that make us different and unique. The department has also signposted to a range of resources and support to help schools to prevent and tackle bullying.