11/06/2004

Fifth of all NI pupils bullied

More than a fifth of pupils in Northern Ireland have been bullied according to a new survey out on Friday.

The figure is part of research carried out by the Central Survey Unit (CSU) of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) which today published the results of the second round of a behaviour and attitudes of young people survey.

The aim of the survey was to examine the behaviour and attitudes of young people towards a range of different topics including: school, nutrition, general health, sports and policing.

Key findings of the survey include:
  • School - Over three quarters (77%) of pupils like school at present while over a third (34%) of pupils feel their parents expect too much of them at school.
  • Bullying - In the 12 months prior to the survey, 17% of pupils revealed they had been bullied while more than a tenth (13%) had been called names or harassed because of their religion, race or skin colour.
  • Smoking - A third of pupils have smoked tobacco while over a third (34%) of those who have smoked tobacco, currently smoke at least once a week.
  • Alcohol - 59% of pupils have had an alcoholic drink on at least one occasion, while 55% of those who have taken an alcoholic drink got drunk.
  • Drugs & Solvents - Over a fifth (22%) of all pupils have used illegal drugs or solvents.
  • Policing - Just over half (51%) think the police in Northern Ireland treat young people very or quite fairly.
  • Anti-Social Behaviour - Almost one in ten (9%) pupils say they have carried a knife or other weapon for their own protection during the 12 months prior to the survey.
  • Sexual experience and knowledge - 11% of pupils have had sexual intercourse, with the most common age for these pupils being 14 years old the first time.
The survey, commissioned by the cross-departmental Equality and Social Need Steering Group (ESNSG) and conducted by CSU, was conducted in 2000.

A self-completion questionnaire was administered to over 7000 post-primary school children in Northern Ireland.

(MB)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 January 2013
Heavy Snow Closes Over 80 Schools
Over 80 schools across Northern Ireland have been closed as the heavy snow continues to cause disruption on Tuesday morning. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, as the snow is continuing to affect many roads. Areas which have been majorly disrupted include Lisburn, Castlereagh and Carryduff.
02 March 2018
Schools Closures Across NI
The Department of Education have published a list of all schools across that have confirmed they will be closed today, Friday 2nd March, 2018 due to the adverse weather conditions.
06 November 2013
NI Kids Feel Their Views Are Heard
Northern Ireland children feel their voices are being heard and their views taken seriously, according to a new survey undertaken by Queen's University Belfast and the University of Ulster.
18 June 2013
Number Of Free School Meals Increases
2012/13 saw an increase in the number of children taking up free meals in Northern Ireland, according to the Department of Education. The Department has published statistics on the uptake of school meals in schools, commonly known as the School Meals census. The findings show that across all sectors (excluding special schools), 79,810 pupils (25.
14 November 2024
New Defence Heritage Record Launched
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has welcomed the launch of a new Defence Heritage Record, a comprehensive resource detailing over 4,500 sites constructed across Northern Ireland in response to World War One and Two, as well as the Cold War.