To ask the Minister of Education (i) to detail the advice given to schools regarding addressing cyber-bullying between pupils at their school, but which may take place out of school grounds; and (ii) for her assessment of the Addressing Bully in Schools Act’s provision for schools having the power but not the duty to address cyber-bullying between pupils that takes place out of school.

The issue of cyber-bullying between pupils requires a recognition of those circumstances in which schools should intervene; and those where the responsibility to act lies with the parents and guardians of pupils involved.

The Addressing Bullying in Schools Act (NI) introduces a new power explicitly for schools to include measures within their discipline policy to address cyber-bullying incidents, occurring outside normal boundaries, where the cyber-bullying is likely to have a detrimental effect on the pupil’s ongoing education in school.

It will be for the Board of Governors to consider and make clear exactly within the schools anti-bullying policy what it will and will not do in responding to cyber-bullying allegations. Guidance to accompany the Act provides greater clarity for schools, parents and pupils on where the boundaries of responsibility lie and what options are available to parents when a school is unable to take action. The Education Authority will provide support to schools in implementation.

I recognise that cyber-bullying is a particularly complex area and it will be for individual schools to decide what use they make of this power.