FOI Request: Bullying, Safeguarding and Related Data (Moray Secondary Schools)

Request 101003951677

BULLYING INCIDENTS
1. The total number of recorded bullying incidents per school per academic year.
2. The definition used by the Council for “recorded bullying incident.”
3. A breakdown, where recorded, of bullying incidents by type (e.g. verbal, physical, online/cyber, prejudice-based, etc.).
4. The number of repeat bullying incidents involving the same pupil(s) within an academic year (if recorded).
5. The number of bullying incidents recorded as:
  * Resolved internally at classroom level;
  * Escalated to senior leadership;
  * Resulting in temporary exclusion;
  * Resulting in permanent exclusion.
6. The average time (in days) between initial report and recorded resolution of bullying incidents (if recorded).

SAFEGUARDING
7. The total number of safeguarding referrals per school per academic year.
8. Of those referrals, how many were made to:
  * Social work;
  * Child protection processes;
  * Multi-agency GIRFEC planning meetings.
9. The definition used by the Council for “safeguarding referral.”

WELLBEING AND COUNSELLING REFERRALS
10. The total number of referrals of pupils to counselling services or external wellbeing support services per school per academic year.
11. A breakdown, where recorded, of whether referrals were:
* Internal school-based counselling;
* External third-party providers;
* Self-referrals;
* Parent-initiated referrals;
* Staff-initiated referrals.

POLICE INVOLVEMENT
12. The total number of bullying-related incidents per school per academic year which resulted in:
* Contact with Police Scotland;
* Formal referral to Police Scotland;
* Police attendance at the school in relation to bullying.

COMPLAINTS AND GOVERNANCE
13. The number of formal complaints received per school per academic year relating to the handling of bullying.
14. The number of complaints upheld, partially upheld, or not upheld.
15. Copies of any anonymised annual or committee-level reports provided to the Education Committee or relevant oversight body concerning bullying statistics during the last five academic years.

POLICY AND TRAINING
16. The date of the most recent review of each school’s anti-bullying policy.
17. Confirmation of whether each school’s policy is aligned with the Scottish Government “Respect for All” guidance.
18. The number of staff training sessions delivered per school per academic year relating to:
* Anti-bullying policy;
* Safeguarding responsibilities;
* GIRFEC procedures.

RECORDING SYSTEMS
19. Confirmation of the system(s) used to record bullying and safeguarding incidents (e.g. SEEMiS or alternative platforms).
20. Any guidance issued to schools within Moray Council during the last five academic years regarding the recording and categorisation of bullying incidents.

Response 31-03-2026

1. Please find the information requested here.

2. The information requested is published and available on the Moray Council website and is therefore exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, information otherwise accessible. For ease of reference please find a link to the web page here: http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_52988.html ; http://www.moray.gov.uk/downloads/file152487.pdf

3. Please find the information requested here.

4. Not recorded. Information that is not held falls under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Information not held.

5. Not recorded to this level - exempt under S. 17 FOISA

6. Not held - exempt under S. 17 FOISA

7. This information is held in archived pupil files.  Schools would have to read through thousands of files to get this information and this task would cost the Council in excess of £600 of staff time. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (excessive cost), we are therefore unable to comply with this request.

8. As per 7.

9. The information requested is published and available on the Moray Council website and is therefore exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, information otherwise accessible. For ease of reference please find a link to the web page here: 
http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_55497.html

10. This information is held in archived pupil files.  Schools would have to read through thousands of files to get this information and this task would cost the Council in excess of £600 of staff time. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (excessive cost), we are therefore unable to comply with this request.

11. As per 10.

12. Not recorded - exempt under S. 17 FOISA

13. The number of formal complaints received per school per academic year relating to the handling of bullying as recorded on the central complaint software is between 1 and 5 for each of the academic years 2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23; 2023/24. Due to the low numbers involved, release of this information could result in the identification of individuals. This information is therefore exempt under Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Personal Information. 

There were no bullying complaints reported for 2024/25.

14. Due to the low numbers involved this information is exempt under S.38(1)b 

15. Please see the Report to committee which includes bullying stats e.g - http://www.moray.gov.uk/downloads/file158766.pdf   

16.-18. Please find the information requested here.

19. Bullying and Equalities module on SEEMIS

20. None.