Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help (a) tackle transphobic bullying in schools.

The department has sent a clear message that bullying should never be tolerated, and we are committed to supporting schools to tackle it.

The department provides advice for schools outlining schools’ responsibilities. The advice makes clear that schools should make appropriate provision for a bullied child's social, emotional, and mental health needs. This is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying.

Between 10 August 2021 and 31 March 2023, the department is providing over £2 million of funding to five anti-bullying organisations to support schools to tackle bullying. This includes projects targeting bullying of particular groups.

The department is also ensuring that all children in England learn about respectful relationships, in person and online, as part of new mandatory relationships, sex and health education. These subjects are designed to give pupils the knowledge they need to lead happy, safe, and healthy lives and to foster respect for other people and for difference.

All schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy which outlines measures to encourage good behaviour and prevent all forms of bullying amongst pupils. The policy should set out the behaviour expected of pupils, the sanctions that will be imposed for misbehaviour, and rewards for good behaviour. This should be communicated to all pupils, school staff and parents. This is supported by Respectful School Communities, a self-review and signposting tool to support schools to develop a whole-school approach which promotes respect and discipline. This is available at: https://educateagainsthate.com/resources/respectful-school-communities-self-review-signposting-tool-2/. This tool can combat bullying, harassment and prejudice of any kind, including hate-based bullying.