How to Report Bullying at School: A Step-by-Step Guide

My School Agent | 8 July 2026

A parent I know spent three weeks emailing the wrong person about her son being bullied. She thought she was escalating. She was actually just resending the same complaint to the class teacher, who'd already said she couldn't do anything.

No one told her who to contact next. So she kept emailing the person who wasn't helping, getting more frustrated, while her son kept coming home in tears.

If you don't know the escalation path, you can't follow it. So here it is.

Step 1: Start with the Class Teacher

Your first point of contact is your child's class teacher. Email them or ask to speak in person after school.

Explain:

  • What's been happening
  • How long it's been going on
  • Who is involved (if your child has told you)
  • How it's affecting your child

Keep it factual. You don't need to be emotional or apologetic. Just clear.

Ask what the school will do and when you can expect an update.

Most schools will take it seriously. The teacher will speak to the children involved, monitor the situation, and report back to you.

Give them a reasonable amount of time to act. A few days is reasonable. A few weeks without any update is not.

Step 2: Escalate to the Head Teacher

If the class teacher doesn't respond, or the bullying continues, escalate to the head teacher.

Send an email. Put "Formal complaint: bullying" in the subject line.

Include:

  • A summary of what's been happening
  • When you first raised it with the class teacher
  • What the school has done so far
  • Why it hasn't been resolved
  • What you want the school to do

Attach any evidence: dates, incidents, screenshots if it's happening online.

The head teacher should respond within a few days and arrange a meeting or phone call to discuss next steps.

Step 3: Complain to the Governing Body

If the head teacher doesn't resolve it, or you're not satisfied with the response, you can complain to the school's governing body.

Find the complaints policy on the school website. It will tell you who to contact and how.

For maintained schools, this is the chair of governors. For academies, it's the trust's complaints procedure.

Write a formal complaint. Include everything you've already sent to the class teacher and head, plus any new incidents.

The governing body will review your complaint and respond in writing, usually within 10-15 school days.

Step 4: Contact the Local Authority or Trust

If the governing body doesn't resolve it, you can escalate further.

For maintained schools, contact your local authority's education department. They have a duty to ensure the school is following its own policies.

For academies, contact the academy trust. If the trust doesn't help, you can contact the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

For independent schools, contact the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).

Step 5: Report to Ofsted

If you believe the school is failing to deal with bullying, you can report it to Ofsted. This won't resolve your individual case, but it will be recorded and may affect future inspections.

You can also contact the police if the bullying involves physical assault, theft, threats, or harassment.

What to Include When You Write

Every time you escalate, include:

  • Dates of incidents
  • Names of people involved (if known)
  • What happened in your child's words
  • Impact on your child (school refusal, anxiety, physical symptoms)
  • What you've already done (who you've spoken to, when, what they said)
  • What you want (specific actions, not just "fix it")

Keep the tone calm and factual. You're angry. You're allowed to be angry. But the complaint will be taken more seriously if it reads like a clear account, not a rant.

Keep Copies of Everything

Save every email you send. Save every response. Screenshot any online bullying. Write down any verbal conversations (who, when, what was said).

If you end up escalating, you'll need evidence of what the school has or hasn't done. Without records, it's your word against theirs.

You Don't Have to Do This Alone

If you're struggling, organisations like the Anti-Bullying Alliance, NSPCC, and Bullying UK offer advice and support.

And if you're drowning in school admin while trying to deal with this, that's where something like My School Agent helps. It won't stop the bullying. But it will keep the school calendar and events organised so you have one less thing to manage while you're fighting this battle.

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