when tougher measures are needed

Where pupils do not respond to preventive strategies to combat bullying, schools will need to take tougher action to deal with persistent and violent bullying. As part of their discipline policy, schools should have a sufficient range of sanctions to deal with this type of bullying. Make sure that the whole school community knows what sanctions will be taken. They should be fairly and consistently applied. Sanctions might include: 

• removal from the group (in class);
• withdrawal of break and lunchtime privileges;
• detention;
• withholding participation in any school trip or sports events that are not an essential part of the curriculum;
• fixed period exclusion.

Where serious violence is involved, the head teacher can and should normally permanently exclude a pupil. Appeal panels have been told that they should not seek to overrule such a decision on appeal.