The biggest problem is that there is an unwillingness to report bullying. I can't blame victims for this view as the repercussions for the bully are minimal, and for the victim too severe.

One solution would be to make the entire process anonymous. Throughout the proceedings, neither the bully nor the rest of the school, including teachers involved in the case, should be made aware of the identity of the victim. The reason for excluding teachers is that the bully might be a relative or favourite of a teacher.

This process should be coupled with strict punishment. If the child is found guilty of bullying, they should be expelled. This would ensure the child will not be able to continue bullying at the school, and prevent any repercussions from the bully for the victim.

Another feature that could be introduced is a register of bullies. This would list those found guilty of multiple cases of bullying. This will help any school determine whether a new pupil has a history of bullying, and will allow the school to monitor known bullies more closely.

There should also be some form of criminal liability for bullies, especially in the case of high school bullying. Bullies who physically harm other pupils should be charged with assault. Anyone older than 16 is considered fully liable for their actions.

If it can be proven that a victim committed suicide as a result of bullying, the bully should be charged with murder or manslaughter. A school bully should not be treated differently from anyone else who causes the death of another. This is especially true since the act of bullying is always done with the intention to do harm.

The suicides of victims has shown that bullying is a serious matter and cannot be seen as part of school life. Some victims of bullying struggle with psychological damage well into adulthood. A school should be considered as a place of learning and safety by its pupils.