The bullying of school staff - including cyberbullying - is never acceptable and you are protected by a range of laws:
- All UK state schools are required to have anti-bullying policies under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and independent schools have similar obligations under the Education (Independent Schools Standards) Regulations 2003. These should include policies and processes for dealing with cyberbullying against teachers, as well as pupils.
- Although cyberbullying is not a specific criminal offence in UK law, criminal laws such as the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 may apply in terms of harassment or threatening behaviour.
- Where mobile bullying is concerned, the Telecoms Act 1984 makes it a criminal offence to make anonymous or abusive calls and, if you are harassed persistently on your mobile, it may be an offence under the 1997 Harassment Act.
- Furthermore, the Communications Act 2003 makes it a criminal offence to send: "...by means of a public electronic communications network, a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character”.
You can find more information on the legal duties and powers of your school in relation to cyberbullying on the Teachernet website and the Digizen website.