The WISDOM Research Network team wanted to bring it to your attention that next week is Anti-Bullying Week (10 – 14 November 2025).

This year’s theme is “Power for Good”. You can find more information, resources and ideas for marking the week here. Monday 10 November is Odd Socks Day, where school communities can choose to wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.

One of the WISDOM Research Network’s Principal Investigators has also provided us with some helpful information and resources to share with you, for both primary and secondary schools.

Primary schools:

Research co-led by Oxford University and Bangor University: In the largest UK trial to date, the KiVa anti-bullying programme was delivered to over 11,000 primary school children in 118 schools across England and Wales. The study found that schools running KiVa saw a clear reduction in bullying: children were 13% less likely to report being bullied compared to standard practices, and reported greater empathy and improved peer relationships. Importantly, KiVa worked in diverse and economically different schools and was cost-effective—making it a practical, evidence-based option for reducing bullying and supporting wellbeing in your school.

What does KiVa involve?
KiVa is a whole-school intervention that has two main elements:

• Universal actions: Every class receives ten structured lessons spread across the year, using engaging discussions, role-play, group activities, and videos to help children recognise bullying, empathise with victims, and learn safe ways to respond. Resources include posters for school corridors and high-visibility tabards for playground supervisors. All staff, pupils and parents are introduced to the programme and its goals.
• Targeted support: A specially trained KiVa Team (usually two to three school staff) deals with confirmed cases of bullying through a series of guided meetings and individual follow-up, ensuring children involved feel safe and supported.

Teachers receive training in the programme and deliver lessons as part of their usual personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. The whole-school approach ensures consistency, visibility, and sustainability.

Find out more or register for KiVa UK resources:

• Children’s Early Intervention Trust (Bangor, UK KiVa Hub):
  The official provider of KiVa resources and training for UK schools.
  Visit their office site for information and registration:
  https://uk.kivaprogram.net/our-office/
• General information and support:
  https://ceit-cymru.org/stand-together-no-to-bullying/
• Training and resources enquiries:
  KiVa UK Hub, Bangor University, Gwynedd, LL57 2PZ, Tel: +44 (0)1248 383 758/484.

For more details, see our published research in Psychological Medicine (Bowes et al., 2024), and help your school join the national movement to stop bullying and support children’s wellbeing.

Secondary schools:

Research run by Professor Chris Bonell, Prof Russel Viner and others: The INCLUSIVE trial is the largest UK study of a whole-school restorative approach for secondary schools. The programme brings together staff and students to improve relationships, tackle bullying, and reduce aggression. Schools form action groups—teams of staff and pupils—that review needs in their own school, revise policies, and lead change. All staff receive training on restorative practices, which focus on repairing relationships instead of punishing. Students follow a new curriculum to build social and emotional skills, helping them resolve problems and support each other. Findings showed the intervention was feasible, acceptable, and welcomed by staff and students, especially in disadvantaged schools. It gives everyone a say in how the school is run, making rules fairer, and fostering a more inclusive, caring environment. The approach is sustainable, adaptable, and ready for wider rollout.

• The INCLUSIVE restorative programme (sometimes branded as “Learning Together”) is detailed at Education Endowment Foundation – INCLUSIVE (Learning Together). This site includes training requirements, curriculum materials, guidance for staff, and information on how to join future trials or adopt the programme in your school.
• For practical restorative justice approaches in UK schools, visit Restorative Justice 4 Schools offering bespoke training and resources for implementing restorative approaches across the whole school, with support for staff and students.

Adopting restorative practices through INCLUSIVE can help reduce bullying, exclusion and conflict, while improving wellbeing and creating a positive, respectful school climate for staff and students alike.

We hope you find this information helpful and would love to hear how your school community is marking the week.