Can I remove my child from school due to bullying
Bullying at school can leave parents feeling helpless and deeply worried when their child comes home distressed or withdrawn. It is crucial to know what your legal rights are if the school is not keeping them safe.
In this article, we look at your legal options, explore legal advice for parents facing school harassment, what schools are required to do, when the police can become involved, and what steps you can take if your child is falsely accused of bullying or harassment. We also explain how we support families who come to us for legal advice in relation to school bullying, online harassment and defamation affecting children.
Understanding your child’s right to be safe at school
Can I remove my child from school because of bullying
What to do if your child is falsely accused of bullying
Can the police do anything about school bullying
What to do if the school is not dealing with bullying
How we support parents and children facing school bullying
Can we help with the school directly
When to seek legal advice about school bullying
Understanding your child’s right to be safe at school
Every child has the right to feel safe at school. Schools in the UK have a legal duty of care to protect pupils from harm, including bullying, harassment and online abuse connected to school. This includes physical bullying, verbal abuse, social exclusion and cyberbullying that happens on social media, messaging apps or gaming platforms. The duty of care is a legal obligation requiring schools to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. If a school knows, or ought reasonably to know, that a child is being bullied, it must take appropriate action. Failing to do so can amount to negligence or a breach of statutory duties.
In simple terms, if a risk is obvious and the school does not act, it may be legally responsible for the consequences.
Bullying can sometimes cross the line into unlawful harassment. Harassment involves unwanted behaviour that causes alarm or distress and may fall under criminal law or equality legislation, particularly where it relates to race, disability, religion, sex or sexual orientation. If bullying targets a protected characteristic, the Equality Act 2010 may apply, giving families additional legal protection. If the bullying includes false allegations, harmful rumours or damaging posts online, it may also amount to defamation. Defamation involves the publication of false statements that harm a person’s reputation. Defamation against children is becoming a prevelant issue, particularly in the digital age where harmful content spreads quickly and can follow a child for years.
Can I remove my child from school because of bullying
Parents often ask whether they can legally remove their child from school due to cyberbullying. The short answer is that you do have options, but there are legal and practical considerations.
In the UK, parents are responsible for ensuring their child receives a suitable education.This does not necessarily have to be at a traditional school. Some parents consider moving their child to another school or opting for elective home education if the bullying is severe and unresolved. Spaking to
In serious cases where a school has failed to safeguard a child, legal action may be considered. This could involve challenging the school’s handling of the situation or, in extreme circumstances, pursuing a harassment claim if harm has resulted. Legal advice for parents facing school harassment at an early stage often prevents your child’s bullying from escalating further. Seeking specialist cyberbullying advice for parents is a vital first step in resolving severe school harassment.
What to do if your child is falsely accused of cyberbullying
Being falsely accused of bullying can be just as distressing as being bullied. Allegations can damage a child’s reputation, affect friendships and even impact future school or university opportunities. If your child has been wrongly accused, ask the school for full details of the allegation and the evidence relied upon.
Schools should follow a fair and transparent disciplinary process. Your child has the right to be heard and to respond to the claims. This reflects basic principles of natural justice, which means decisions should not be made without giving someone a fair opportunity to answer the case against them. False accusations can sometimes amount to defamation, particularly if they are shared widely among pupils, parents or online.
If unverified allegations are circulated in a way that harms your child’s reputation, this may raise legal concerns and require swift action to limit further damage. Preserving evidence, including emails, letters, screenshots and witness accounts, is crucial. Clear documentation can make a significant difference when challenging a school’s decision or seeking removal of harmful online content.
Can the police do anything about school bullying
Parents often wonder whether the police can get involved in school bullying. The answer depends on the nature and severity of the conduct. Not all bullying is a criminal offence, however, certain behaviours can cross into criminal territory. Threats of violence, physical assault, harassment, stalking, malicious communications and hate crimes may all justify police involvement.
Harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 involves a course of conduct that causes alarm or distress. This usually means there must be repeated behaviour rather than a one-off incident. Malicious communications laws can apply where someone sends messages that are grossly offensive, threatening or intended to cause distress.
If your child is receiving abusive messages online, especially repeated or threatening ones, reporting the matter to the police may be appropriate and seeking legal advice is essential. Even if no prosecution follows, police involvement can sometimes act as a deterrent and demonstrate the seriousness of the situation.
What to do if the school is not dealing with bullying
If you feel the school is not taking bullying seriously, you are not powerless. Start by raising the matter in writing with the form tutor or head of year. Keep your communication factual and include dates, incidents and evidence. If the response is inadequate, escalate the complaint to the headteacher and then to the school governors.
Schools must have a formal complaints procedure. Following this process creates a paper trail that may later be crucial if legal action becomes necessary. In cases involving discrimination, you may also have rights under the Equality Act 2010. If a child is bullied because of a protected characteristic and the school fails to act, this can give rise to legal claims. Where online harassment is involved, steps can be taken to remove posts from social media, or abusive or defamatory material from platforms and websites. Early intervention is often key to preventing further reputational harm.
How we support parents and children facing school bullying
When parents come to usfor advice on how to take legal action for cyberbullying, harassed or falsely accused online at school, the first step is always to listen carefully. We understand that behind every case is a child who may be anxious, isolated or deeply upset. We arrange a dedicated consultation, either with the parents alone or with the parents and the child, depending on what feels appropriate and supportive. These consultations are unlimited in time and allow our expert solicitors to fully understand the unique aspects of each case, and give tailored, specific legal advice for parents facing school harassment.
Creating a safe and calm environment for that discussion is essential. Children often want to be heard, and parents need clarity about their legal position. The matter is then handled by an experienced solicitor who has dealt with many similar cases.
We have worked with numerous families facing school bullying, particularly cyberbullying, including harassment and defamation. In some instances, our solicitors have sat as school governors or have been closely involved with school governance structures. This gives us a practical understanding of how schools operate, how safeguarding decisions are made and where systems can sometimes fail.
Can we help with the school directly
Yes, of course we can. In some cases, we communicate with the school on the parents’ behalf, setting out the legal position clearly and firmly so that the school understands its duties and the seriousness of the situation. In other cases, parents prefer to remain the primary point of contact. We then advise them carefully on how to communicate, guide them on the appropriate wording to use in letters or emails, and help them structure follow-ups so that the matter is not brushed aside.
We also give legal advise for parents facing school harassment on what specific points should be included in correspondence, to ensure the school addresses the right issues and does not avoid giving a transparent and accountable answer. This might include referencing safeguarding duties, equality obligations, previous incidents, or the impact on the child’s mental health and education.We know that child or teenage harassment on social media can be detrimental, so we remain persistent and determined in our approach to ensure the cyberbullying ends.
With the right approach and persistence, many matters can be resolved without the need for formal court proceedings. We draw not only on legal principles but also on the insight gained from other clients’ experiences. That perspective allows us to identify patterns, anticipate how a school may respond and craft a strategy that is both firm and constructive.
In many cases, a carefully prepared legal letter setting out the school’s duties and the potential consequences of inaction can prompt meaningful engagement and swift change.
Our aim is always to resolve the problem in a way that protects the child’s wellbeing, education and reputation. Sometimes that involves holding the school to account for failing in its duty of care. In other cases, it may involve seeking the removal of defamatory online material, advising on police complaints, or negotiating practical safeguarding measures within the school.
Every family’s situation is different. What remains constant is our focus on achieving a solution that allows the child to feel safe and supported again.
When to seek legal advice about school bullying
If your child is suffering ongoing cyerbullying, facing false accusations, or being targeted online, early legal advice for parents facing school harassment can help understand the options and protect your child’s wellbeing and reputation.
If you are searching for answers to questions such as "can I remove my child from school because of bullying", "what to do if my child is falsely accused at school", "how to prove harassment in the UK", or, "can I take legal action against a school for bullying", speaking to a solicitor experienced in internet law and harassment cases can make all the difference. We regularly assist parents and children facing online harassment, false allegations and reputational harm connected to school life.
If you are unsure about your next step, seeking clear, practical advice may be the first move towards resolving the situation and restoring peace of mind for you and your child.