Formal records of bullying are to be kept at schools in a bid to prevent such behaviour taking place in the classroom and playground.

A report template has been drawn up by the Department of Education, which is being distributed to primary and post-primary schools across Ireland, the Irish Independent reports.

Schools are to keep track of any victimisation incidents and to report to the board of management - representing the first time learning institutes in the country have been formally required to maintain such records.

It is hoped the system will prove as effective as a similar approach undertaken at schools in Sweden, where instances of bullying have fallen by 30 per cent.

The bullying template is one of numerous recommendations set out in an Action Plan for Bullying, which is being unveiled by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn this week and represents the first time in two decades that guidelines to tackle bullying school have been updated.

Written by Donal Walsh

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