The Lagan Valley MLA said: “Bullying can be an incredibly devastating experience to go through. It shatters self-confidence, stifles potential and causes serious, long-term effects on a young person's mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.

“While we have the Addressing Bullying in Schools Act (NI) 2016, which was a hugely welcome piece of legislation, we need to build on this.

“A recent report by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance said that over two-fifths of ethnic minority students in Northern Ireland have reportedly been the victims of racist bullying and harassment. While the 2017 NI Young Life & Times survey highlighted that 42% of respondents said they had been bullied in school.

“The majority of schools approach bullying incidents with care and understanding, but we must ensure they receive the necessary support, starting with a clear understanding of trends.

“Anti-bullying week gives us an opportunity to talk about what more we can do as policymakers, and I believe the Department of Education needs to create a database of incidents and publish yearly reports.

“The 2016 Act requires schools to record incidents, but currently, there is no way to consolidate this data and publish it in a way that reveals trends that could inform policy and better target interventions. I understand the importance of privacy and the need to avoid identifying individuals, but I believe there are still ways to address these concerns and make this data available.”