Anti-Bullying Week 2027: Everything Parents Need to Know
My School Agent | 8 July 2026
The letter came home on a Friday. "Anti-Bullying Week next week. Odd Socks Day on Monday. Please talk to your child about kindness and respect." I stuck it on the fridge, made a mental note about socks, and promptly forgot what Anti-Bullying Week actually involved beyond the dress-up day.
If that sounds familiar, you're not alone.
What Is Anti-Bullying Week?
Anti-Bullying Week is an annual campaign coordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance. It takes place in November, typically during the third week of the month. In 2027, it runs from 15th to 19th November.
Each year has a theme. Past themes have included "Make a Noise About Bullying", "One Kind Word", and "Reach Out". The theme for 2027 will be announced by the Anti-Bullying Alliance in the summer.
The week kicks off with Odd Socks Day on the Monday. Children wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique. No costume required. No elaborate outfit. Just two socks that don't match.
What Happens at School
Most schools mark Anti-Bullying Week with a mix of activities:
- Assemblies about what bullying is, why it's harmful, and how to be an upstander
- Class discussions about kindness, empathy, and difference
- Creative projects like posters, poems, or pledges
- PSHE lessons focused on respectful relationships
- Guest speakers or workshops in some schools
The quality and depth vary. Some schools go all in with a full week of themed activities. Others do a token assembly and move on. Either way, it's a moment when bullying is front and centre.
Why It Matters
According to the Anti-Bullying Alliance, over half of children and young people have experienced bullying at some point. For many, it happens at school. For some, it follows them home via WhatsApp groups and gaming chats.
Anti-Bullying Week won't stop bullying on its own. But it does something important: it makes bullying visible. It tells children that adults are paying attention. It gives them language to describe what's happening. It reminds them that they can ask for help.
And for children who aren't being bullied, it builds empathy. It challenges the bystander effect. It plants the idea that standing by silently is a choice.
What You Can Do at Home
You don't need to deliver a lecture. Just start a conversation.
Ask your child what their school is doing for Anti-Bullying Week. Ask if they know what bullying means. Ask if they've ever seen it happen.
Talk about the difference between a one-off argument and repeated targeting. Talk about how bullying can be physical, verbal, social, or online. Talk about the fact that leaving someone out on purpose, repeatedly, is a form of bullying.
If your child mentions something concerning, don't dismiss it. Listen. Ask questions. Document it. Speak to the school if it's serious or ongoing.
And if your child struggles to remember what's happening at school that week, you're not failing. School is a blur of letters, events, and last-minute requests. That's why I built My School Agent. It pulls school dates and events into one place so you can actually keep up without the constant low-level panic that you've missed something important.
The Week After
Anti-Bullying Week ends. The odd socks go back in the drawer. Life moves on.
But the conversations don't have to stop. Kindness isn't a one-week project. And if your child ever tells you something that worries you, the school's bullying policy doesn't expire when the posters come down.
Keep talking. Keep listening. Keep the door open.