G There are also ways of working with individual pupils, or in small groups. Assertiveness training for pupils who are liable to be victims is worthwhile, and certain approaches to group bullying such as ‘no blame’, can be useful in changing the behaviour of bullying pupils without confronting them directly, although other sanctions may be needed for those who continue with persistent bullying.
H Work in the playground is important, too. One helpful step is to train lunchtime supervisors to distinguish bullying from playful fight, and help them break up conflicts. Another possibility is to improve the playground environment, so that pupils are likely to be led into bullying from boredom or frustration.
I With these developments, schools can expect that at least the most serious kind of bullying can largely be prevented. The more effort put in and the wider the whole school involvement, the more substantial the results are likely to be. The reduction in bullying – and the consequent improvement in pupil happiness – is surely a worthwhile objective.