Anti-Bullying Week 2024: 'Choose Respect' to tackle effects of bullying

Anti-Bullying week starts on Monday 11 November and continues through to Friday 15 November.

It is a special week to encourage everyone - children, teachers and parents - to take a stand against bullying all year round.

The organisers of the annual event say they hope this year’s theme – “Choose Respect” – will empower children to “do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes”.

Many schools across the UK will be marking Anti-Bullying Week with themed assemblies, discussions in classrooms and joining in with a BBC Teach Live Lesson featuring CBBC’s Rhys Stephenson, Newsround’s Shanequa Paris and Dr Radha Modgil, who will be on hand with advice and ideas on the subject of anti-bullying.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance has released new research that says more than 23% school children are frequently bullied.

A survey of almost 45,000 pupils in England (aged 4-18), showed that one in five experience frequent face-to-face bullying, with rates much higher for those with special educational needs or disabilities and for children who receive free school meals.

Of those surveyed, 7% report frequently bullying others.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance says both those who are bullied and those who report being the bully have poor experiences of school.

Why do people wear odd socks during Anti-Bullying Week?

Will you be wearing odd socks?

Cbeebies star Andy Day and his band The Odd Socks joined forces with the Anti-Bullying Alliance to create Odd Socks Day in 2017.

They say wearing odd socks "celebrates diversity, acceptance, and including everyone".

More than 5 million children took part in Odd Socks Day in 2023.

It will take place on 12 November, the second day of Anti-Bullying Week.

It usually falls on the first day of the week but organisers wanted to avoid a clash with Armistice Day on the 11 November.