Exploring the Impact of Bullying in UK Primary School Education

This essay provides an overview of the UK education system, focusing on primary schools and the role of teachers. It then delves into the issue of bullying, defining it as the use of force or threats to abuse or dominate. The essay explores different forms of bullying, including individual and group bullying, and highlights the impact of social media. It references key concepts such as peer abuse and the imbalance of power dynamics that characterize bullying. The essay also discusses the responsibilities of primary teachers in addressing bullying and creating a positive classroom environment. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the causes and consequences of bullying to develop effective strategies for prevention and intervention. The essay also touches on the role of parents and school boards in addressing this issue.

Running head: BULLYING
BULLYING
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1BULLYING
Section 1
The system of education in the UK is mainly divided into four parts, which are the
primary education, secondary education, further education, and lastly, higher education. The
children belonging to the UK tend to lawfully attend the primary and secondary education, which
tends to operate from 5 years old until and unless the student turns to be 16 years old (Craft et
al., 2014). On the other hand, it is to be noted that the system of education in the UK is divided
into key stages which can be classified as the key stage 1, key stage 2, key stage 3 and key stage
4. Children belonging to 5 to 7 years belongs to the key stage 1, the children belonging to the
age group of 7 to 11 years age tend to belong to the key stage 2, the children belonging to the age
group of 11 to 14 years of age tend to belong to the key stage 3 and finally, the children
belonging to the age group of 14 to 16 years old belongs to the key stage 4 (Florian, Black-
Hawkins and Rouse, 2016). It is to be noted that the key stage 1 and the two are commenced at
the primary school. On the other hand, the student with the age group of 11 years tends to move
in the secondary school and complete the key stage of 3 and Key stage 4. The regular school
activity tends to start from 8 am to 9 am and continues till 3 pm or 4 pm. The year of the school
tends to start each year in September and tends to end in the month of July (Webster and
Blatchford, 2013). It can be said that the parents who can afford the expense of the private
schools tends to send the children in private schools which are also known as independent
schools. However, it is to be noted that there is a significant difference between the public and
the private school in the UK. The boarding facility is being provided to the students who belong
to private schools. They tend to have classrooms that are smaller in size, and they often meet the
standards of higher education (Gerver, 2014). During the period of admission, the expense is
mainly paid on the basis of the academic competence of the student or totally on the accessibility

2BULLYING
of the facilities of the education. However, it is to be noted that the education of the single-sex is
very much common in secondary schools. However, the majority of children tend to attend
public schools in the UK, which are free of expense. It is however to be noted that the courses
are mainly taught in English. However, in Wales, learning the welsh as a secondary language is
compulsory in schools to the students belonging to the age group of 16. On the other hand, it is
to be noted that the academic institutions in Northern Ireland tend to offer courses in Irish and
Gaelic. However, there are other special individual courses in various languages for the students
who wish to take the courses in their own preferred language. The courses are however, very
much limited and independent. In the primary schools in the UK, the education of thee children
is mainly focused on basic subjects like science, maths, and reading. They also tend to learn
about subjects like history, technology, geography, music, and art. The students can even
participate in physical education and can even take part in education, which is related to
education. It is to be noted that in the sixth year of the education, along with the end of the
second stage of the primary education, the students have the option of taking a test which is
standardized (Green and Kerr, 2018). Children tend to get a sense of social security, social
welfare, and even recreational support from their early age when they tend to attend the primary
schools in the UK.
The primary school, junior school, elementary school, or the grade school in the UK and
Canada is considered to be a school for the children who belong to the age group of four to that
of the eleven. It is in these schools that the children tend to receive a primary or secondary
education. According to the international standard classification of education, primary education
is being considered as the single-phase where programs are being created to give the necessary
talents required in reading, writing, and even mathematics (Adair, Burnside and Pine, 2013) This

3BULLYING
is considered to be the ISCED level or the primary education or even the first stage of basic
education. It should, however, be noted that in the majority part of the world, primary education
is considered to be the first stage of obligatory education. This is the kind of education which is
generally available without the cost of any charge. However, it is to be noted that it is also
offered by the independent schools which run or operate through the fees paid by the parents of
the students or the children (Vincent, Neal and Iqbal, 2016).The utilisation of the grade school is
very much prevalent. However, this term tends to refer to both primary education as well as the
secondary education. On the other hand, it is to be noted that the primary school is derived from
the French Ecole primaire, which was firstly utilized as an English text in the year 1802.
However, it is to be noted that the elementary education was being taught in the elementary
schools till the period of 1944. It was during the time when the free elementary education was
being for planned for the students over 11. Primary school is mostly utilized in the United
Kingdom, Ireland and in various nations of the common wealth. (Roberts‐Holmes and Bradbury,
2017). It is also considered to be a preferred term in the publications of the United Nations
educational scientific and in the organizations which are concerned or are related to culture. In
most part of the United States, the primary school tends to refer to the schools that cover
kindergarten via the second grade or the third grade . on the other hand, the elementary school
tends to include the grade three through the five grade or through the grade of four to six.
However, it must be noted that in Canada, the elementary school tends to refer to the grades
belonging to the one through the six, while the kindergarten is being denoted as the preschool.
The role of the primary teacher in the UK is to develop the arrangements of work an even
the lesson plans following the objectives of the curriculum. It is the duty of the primary teacher
to create a bonding with the students by keeping the resources of the learning organized and by

4BULLYING
establishing an environment in the classroom that is positive in nature. On the other hand, it is to
be noted that it is the responsibility of the primary teacher to develop and even foster the correct
talents and even the social capabilities to permit the finest development of the children as per its
age, ability, and competence. It is also the responsibility of the primary teacher to assess and
even record the development and even help the pupils for their preparation in the national test.
The primary teacher connects the knowledge of the student to its previous learning and helps in
the development of ways for the motivate it further (Driscoll and Simpson, 2015). It enables to
challenge and even motivate the students so that their knowledge gets deepen. The main
responsibility of the primary teachers is generally the same for all the schools. It is the
responsibility of the primary teacher to teach all the things which are related to the primary
curriculum. The primary teacher must take responsibility for the development of a class of the
students belonging to the primary age group. The primary teacher must organize the classroom
and even the resources of the learning and must create an exhibition in order to build an
environment of learning which is positive in nature. The teacher must even plan, manage, and
preset the lessons that tend to cater to the needs of all the students belonging to the class. The
primary teacher must be maintaining discipline. However, it is to be noted that the primary
teacher must provide feedback to the parents about the progress or the development of the
children. It is also the responsibility of the primary teacher in the UK to coordinate the activities
and a various number of resources within that of the specific sector of the curriculum. The
teacher must even support the colleagues in the conveyance of this particular area. The
responsibility of the primary school teacher in the UK is also to organize and take parts in the
events of the school, outings, and various activities that might tend to take place during the
weekends or during the evening. It must, however, be noted that it is the responsibility of the

5BULLYING
primary teacher to work with the parents and the governors of school or the boards of the school
to make the most of their participation in the school and also enhance the resources which are
needed by the school. The working hours of the primary school teachers tend to vary, but they
are mainly from 8.30 am to 3.30 or 4 pm. In most cases, the teachers are mainly inside the
school premises before the start of the school and remains after the school is being finished.
They often take five classes a day.
Section 2
The term bullying is considered to be the utilization of the force, compulsion or threat in
order to abuse, aggressively dominate or frighten. However, it is to be noted this kind of
behavior is very much frequent and is considered to be habitual. One significant requirement is
the observation of a disproportion of the physical or the social power (Younes and Semich,
2013). This imbalance tends to make distinctions between the concepts of the bullying and the
conflicts. Bullying is considered to be a subsection of aggressive comportment, which is being
characterized by the unsympathetic intent, inequality of the power, and even the duplication over
time. Bullying is therefore considered to be an activity of frequent, belligerent attitude which is
proposed to hurt another individual physically as well as mentally and emotionally. However, it
is to be noted that the bullying tends to range from one on one and individual form of bullying to
the group form of bullying, which is also known as the mobbing (Thangadurai and Gopu) Group
bullying or the mobbing is the situation in which the bully tends to have more than one deputies
who are enthusiastic to give assistance to the primary bully in their works or activities which are
related to the bullying. Bullying that tends to happen in the school or in the workplace is known
as peer abuse. According to Dan Olweus, bullying tends to occur when an individual is being
exposed consistently to the action which is negative in nature from the one or other persons in

6BULLYING
general. However, negative actions tend to occur when an individual exacts harm or some form
of discomfort to the other individual by their own will through some form of physical contact or
through the utilization of words or through some other forms. However, it is to be noted that the
individual bullying is marked by the individual behaving in a particular way in order to acquire
power over the other individual. However, various researches that have been conducted indicate
the fact the main platform of bullying is that of the social media websites. The term bullying can
be defined in various ways (Seager-Smith, 2016). However, it is to be noted that there is no
clear definition of bullying in the United Kingdom. However, there are some states in the United
States which tend to have laws against it. Bullying can be divided into four main types of abuse
which are the mental, spoken, physical, and even cyber. The behaviors that are marked as
cyberbullying tends to include the physical assault or coercion, harassment that tends to take
place verbally, threat, and various other acts that are being directed consistently toward a
particular target.
Bullying in the school is considered to be the violence that is commonly implemented by
adolescents. It has, therefore, become a significant concern for the students as well as has
become a health problem of the public leading towards the global concern (Choucalas, 2015).
Various researches that have been conducted indicate the fact that bullying is a pervasive and
significant problem in the schools of the present scenario. In a nationwide survey that happened
in the year, 2016,20.8 percent of the students reported that they have been bullied. In the survey
that is being conducted in the year 2015, 21 percent of the students belonging to the age group of
12 to 18 reported of being bullied in their respective schools. However, 13 percent of the
students also denoted the fact that they were being funned of, called by various other funny
names, and were even being insulted (Lofink et al., 2013). Twelve percent were on the basis of

7BULLYING
the rumors. Five percent of the students reported that they were being pushed, shoved, spit on,
and were even being tripped. On the other hand, the report also conveys the fact that 5 percent
of the students were being excluded socially. It s to be noted that in the same survey that is being
conducted, the 4 percent of the students claim that they were being endangered with harm and
on the other hand, three percent of the students clamed that they were being literally forced to do
things that were not liked by them. Additionally, 2 percent of the students claims that their things
or the belongings were being damaged mainly on purpose. However, studies that have been
conducted indicate the fact that the females were more bullied in comparison to that of the males
on the subject of that of the rumors (Van der Walt and Eloff, 2015). On the other hand, the males
in comparison to the females reported being threatened with harm or danger. On the other hand,
special mention should be made on the fact that the black students, as well as the white students
in comparison to the Hispanic students, were more bullied in the schools.
It is to be noted that through the survey that was being conducted, it was being
understood that the rate of the bullying varied from 9 to that of the 98 percent. The rate of
bullying for the students belonging to the age group of 12 to 18 years was about 35 percent in
terms of the traditional form of bullying, and on the other hand, the rate of cyberbullying is that
of the 15 percent. However, it is to be noted that the report of being suffered from some form of
bullying is being reported by 36 percent of the students, while the rest 64 percent of the students
did not complain of suffering from the bullying. However, students belonging to the high school
in the year 2015 claimed that 16 percent of the students suffered from the cyberbullying, and 20
percent of the students were being bullied within the school premises. However, the students
who belong to the middle school claims that 24 percent of them were being cyberbullied, while
45 percent of the students faced bullying while being inside the school. One of the significant

8BULLYING
fact that must be noted is that the rate of cyber bullying had increased from 2007 to 1016 from
18 percent to 34 percent. According to Von Solms and Von Solms (2015), students who have
special needs tend to be bullied twice more in comparison to the students who are described as
the normal. It is to be noted that about 74 to 36.2 percent of the students reported of being bullied
verbally and physically because of their sexual orientation, and on the other hand, 55.2 and 22.7
percent of the students claimed that they were being bullied because of their gender expression.
Various researches that have been conducted indicate the fact an individual who has
suffered from some form of bullying might have both short as well as long term psychological
and mental impact—the individuals who have suffered from bullying reports of suffering from
poor mental and physical health (Talukder and Carbunar, 2017) Symptoms of anxiety,
loneliness, vomiting, and depression disturbances in sleep, nightmares, headaches, and consistent
illness are being faced by the victims of the bullying (Whitson, 2015)Suicidal behavior is also
seen in individuals who tend to suffer from some form of bullying. According to Anglin and
Lorusso, the individuals who have suffered from bullying tends to be more inclined towards
attempting suicide in comparison to the students who did not face any form of bullying.
According to Thomas Potter, Koett and Christian (2018) , 17.7 percent of the students belonging
to the school have attempted suicide. The probable reasons for which the students tend to suicide
are mainly depression, violent behavior, and substance abuse.
However, it is to be noted that bullying not only affects the mental and the physical
wellbeing of the students but also the academic achievement of the student as well. Both the
theoretical as well as the experiential literature, tends to support the fact that there is a direct
relationship between the bullying and the academic achievement of the student. According to
Kshetri and Voas (2019), the traditional as well as the cyberbullying tends to have a negative

9BULLYING
impact upon the academic performance of the student. It is to be noted that the peer
victimization, as well as the low performance in terms of academics, are often in relation to one
another mainly because the children who are frequently victimized tend to suffer from negative
mental outcomes that tend to constrain their achievement.
There are many factors that lead to the occurrence of the bullying in the schools, which
tends to range from the sociodemographics of the students, size of the school, number of the
students as well as on the perception of the students who are bullying. According to Phillips,
(2013), the aggressiveness of the preschool, low socioeconomic status, and poor relationships
among the family members tends to enhance the possibility of participation in the circle of
bullying at the later stages of life. However, according to Tapia ( 2015), students who tend to
bullies the others have tends to have a negative arrogance towards the other. The student tends to
suffer from academics and even from social cognition as well; According to Shariff and Hoff
(2016). such students generally belong to the family who has a low rate of income. On the other
hand, it is to be noted that the victims of the bullying tend to have the characteristics of bad
recognition of the self, lack of the social talents, and are mainly isolated or are being rejected by
its peers.
Gender is considered to be one of the reason for which the students tends to get bullied,
and it is being noted that the student’s who are females are mainly harassed by their peers. On
the other hand, the ethical, as well as the racial circumstantial, are also being identified as a
reason for being bullied. Researches and studies that have been conducted in this field claim the
fact that the minorities, as well as the Asian Americans, are more likely to be bullied in
comparison to that of the others (Agrafiotis et al., 2016) According to Kshetri and Voas, (2019).

10BULLYING
Thoughts on Cyberbullying. Computer, 52(4), pp.64-68., students who belong to the family with
lower socio economic status tends to get bullied more.
Self-esteem is one of the reasons for which individuals are being bullied. Though it can
be said that the lower sense of esteem is one of the marked characteristics of the victims, there
are certain studies that tend to be in contradiction with this idea. According to Binfet and
Gaertner, (2015), self-esteem is a protective factor from the participation in the behaviors of the
bullying. On the other hand, factors of the family, like the status of employment of the parents,
tend to show a significant connection with being at the danger of bullying. The researches that
have been conducted indicate the fact that male students, lower level of empathy among the
family, violence within the family, violence in the community, hostile aggressiveness and
supporting of the beliefs in the community are in connection with the bullying (Gadhave and
Sirsat, 2015)
In conclusion, it can be said that though the bullying that is being conducted inside the
school is considered to be a widespread problem that tends to occur across the world, none of the
community is immune to this problem despite the various steps and the anti-bullying initiates
that are being initiated and implemented everywhere. However, efficient prevention bullying
programs must be initiated that must define the bullying in an accurate way to the community
members. It must also include a core team that must include the students, staff of the school,
parents, and other members of the community (Porciani, 2013).. However, in order to have an
environment for the students to learn and even grow up, it is the responsibility of the students in
itself to learn how to communicate with one another and even solve the problems effectively. It
is the responsibility of the students to be empathetic towards others. In this way, bullying can be
stopped from occurring in the upcoming future.

11BULLYING