UCL study links child smacking to GCSE scores, bullying

A major new study has found that children subjected to physical punishment, such as smacking, are significantly more likely to experience poorer educational outcomes and engage in antisocial behavior, including bullying. The research, published on June 11, 2026, by University College London (UCL) and supported by the NSPCC, has prompted renewed calls for England and Northern Ireland to ban the practice, aligning their laws with Scotland and Wales.

The study analyzed data from nearly 19,000 children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002. It found that children in England who experienced physical punishment at ages three, five, and seven were 48 percent more likely to fail to achieve five GCSE passes, including English and maths, compared to 42.3 percent of those who did not. The research also indicated these children were around 35 percent more likely to have hit, pushed, or shoved someone by age 14, and were more prone to bullying siblings and peers.

Lead author Dr. Anja Heilmann, a public health expert at UCL, stated the findings corroborate previous evidence that physical punishment has no benefits and is linked to detrimental outcomes for children's development and wellbeing....