Resources

Banter or bullying? Eight signs to look out for

When a pupil says their behaviour is ‘just banter’ how can you be sure? Ahead of Anti-Bullying Week, Martha Evans considers cues to look out for when deciding if banter has crossed the line

We often hear children defend hurtful behaviours as “just banter” in order to mask bullying actions. Distinguishing between bullying and banter has been a topic of some discussion for years.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) is eager to address this issue and during this year's Anti-Bullying Week – the theme of which is Make a Noise About Bullying – we want to encourage an open discussion about how we can spot the difference between banter and bullying.

Early in my career, I encountered this dilemma during a training session for volunteer sports coaches. I posed the question: “What is the difference between bullying and banter?”

Register now, read forever

Thank you for visiting Headteacher Update and reading some of our content for professionals in primary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.

What's included:

  • Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcasts

  • New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here