In response to “Protect the witnesses” (Professional, 20 September), which suggests that bystanders to bullying also need protecting, I would suggest that it’s a little more complex than this. If bystanders are fully aware that bullying is happening and they say and do nothing, aren’t they in some way complicit?

As a headteacher who dealt with bullying issues (as all school leaders do), I made it clear to the large majority of students who were neither bullied not bullies that they had some responsibility of their own. A conspiracy of silence when wrong is being done is not the way forward. Those bystanders need to talk to someone who can help - a teacher or a parent.

Jill Berry, Former headteacher.