Parents: bullying at school still big problem.

Parents: bullying at school still big problem.

More than half of the parents say their child faces bullying. According to 35% of parents, their child is bullied themselves, 23% say it happens in their child’s class, and 5% say their child sometimes bullies others. Most bullying happens at school. Often when teachers are out of sight; during break or changing clothes for gym. In most cases, it is verbal bullying like name-calling and excluding children. Parents see bullying as a (very) serious problem. This is clear from the latest research by Ouders & Onderwijs among parents in the Landelijk Ouderpanel. 

Lack of knowledge

Almost half of the parents with a bullied child think the school does too little against bullying. Parents often say lack of knowledge at school about how to stop bullying is the cause. More than one in three parents also feels not listened to enough when dealing with bullying. On top of that, 20% of parents do not feel safe enough at school to talk about the issue. 

Tackling bullying from outside the school 

What do you do as a parent if the school’s approach does not work or if too little changes? At the moment, parents feel quite powerless. It is no surprise that 75% of parents think someone from outside the school should address the school in such cases. And 79% of parents want an independent place where parents can go. Unfortunately, less than half know where to go if their child does not feel safe. 

What Ouders & Onderwijs does 

Do you have a question about bullying at school? You can contact our advice center for free help and advice. On our website, you can read everything about bullying on the special theme page we made. 

• Go directly to our bullying theme page.

About the bullying research 

We asked parents in the Landelijk Ouderpanel to give their opinion about bullying and social safety at school. 874 parents took part in the research. The results represent all parents in the Netherlands. 

• You can read the full research report here.  

Give your opinion in the Landelijk Ouderpanel

Do you also want to give your opinion about raising children and education? Then sign up for the Landelijk Ouderpanel. You will get an email with a questionnaire about 6 to 8 times a year. You decide if you want to take part. Signing up is possible here.

• Do you want to know more? Read more here about the Landelijk Ouderpanel.