The Operation of a Bully Court and Perceptions of Its Success

Abstract

This study investigates one strategy to reduce bullying in schools, the bully court, by way of an intensive case study in one school. Questionnaires and interviews were used in conjunction with the observation of a number of bully courts and access to excerpts from the school's bully court record. The aim was to describe the operation of the bully court and to consider how successful it was perceived to be by staff and pupils. There was evidence of strong support for the bully court system from both staff and pupils. The limitations of the bully court are also discussed. The school also uses year 12 pupils to act as mentors to year 7 pupils in the context of a whole school approach to bullying. This mentoring system and other aspects of the anti-bullying code in place within the school, are discussed with respect to suggested reasons why a bully court is perceived to be successful here, when other studies have indicated less positive outcomes.