Social distancing has stopped students building trust with teachers to report bullying

Many post-primary students report that most bullying is not visible to teachers, taking place "subtly", either in the school, such as on crowded corridors, outside school grounds, or online. File picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Post-primary school students have said mask-wearing and physical distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic have stopped them building the trust with their teachers needed for them to report bullying.

Furthermore, while cyberbullying is an issue for both primary and post-primary students, ‘relational bullying’, where a person is deliberately isolated or excluded, is a key issue for post-primary students.