Anti-Bullying and Behaviour research project seeks schools

Etio has been awarded a major new contract by the Department for Education (DfE) to develop a national Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Best Practice Review and Toolkit for mainstream schools across England. The project aims to help schools improve pupil behaviour, reduce preventable exclusions and tackle bullying among children aged 5 to 16. The toolkit will provide practical, evidence-informed resources that schools can adapt to their local needs while complementing existing government guidance.

Structured around three themes, the toolkit is intended to support consistent approaches across school communities and strengthen collaboration between staff, pupils and parents. The themes are:

• Overarching Principles
• Behaviour and Exclusions
• Anti-Bullying

Working alongside research partner ImpactEd, Etio will undertake an independent review of best practice, engage education experts and practitioners, and translate findings into practical tools that schools can adopt quickly. A separate systematic review will also examine which anti-bullying interventions are most effective and identify the components linked to positive outcomes. Once completed and independently evaluated, the toolkit will be made available to schools nationwide, supporting the Government’s ambition to ensure every child can achieve and thrive in a safe, inclusive learning environment.

They are currently seeking schools to take part in the research and, as a thank you for participation, schools will receive £200. The commitment involves interviews with teachers, school leaders and pupils (either in person or online), where they will discuss your strategies for addressing bullying, exclusions, and behaviour. Interviews will be between 30-45 minutes per participant group, and they are looking to speak to at least 2 staff members and 4 pupils per school. All pupils interviewed will need to be accompanied by a member of school staff.

Additionally, there is an offering of an optional, more in-depth engagement opportunity, which could include discussions with parents, in-school observations, and a review of relevant documentation (like your school’s behaviour incident and suspension logs).

Interviews will take place during September and early October 2026. 

To register your interest, please complete the following survey by 18th September:

https://impacted.typeform.com/to/UCVbkRHK

For any questions, feel free to reach out to Deepta Sunil Valliyil at deepta.sunilvalliyil@impactedgroup.uk