Preliminary Outcomes and Lessons Learned from Introducing the School Based KiVa Bullying Prevention Programme in Wales

The paper will briefly describe the KiVa bullying prevention programme and report on outcomes to date from the Welsh trials as well as describing lessons learned through introducing KiVa into Wales. The challenges for researchers and educators in implementing and evaluating the programme will be discussed along with some of the solutions that have been developed. The present situation in relation to KiVa dissemination in the UK will also be described.

Bullying is topic of major international social and health concern owing to its prevalence and significant effects, with one in ten children worldwide reporting that they are bullied. KiVa is a strongly evidenced, school based, bullying prevention programme that was developed and rigorously evaluated in Finland with funding from the Finnish Government. KiVa has universal and targeted components and the major emphasis is on changing the behaviour of bystanders to reduce the social rewards of bullying. A large scale Finnish RCT demonstrated effectiveness in reducing self-reported victimisation and bullying, over a range of bullying behaviours, and it was then rolled-out to, and evaluated in, ninety per cent of Finnish comprehensive schools where it again showed positive outcomes.

KiVa was introduced into Wales with a small, Welsh Government funded, pilot trial in 2012. Pupil survey data was collected prior to, and after, nine months of implementation of Unit 2 of the programme, with approximately 500 pupils aged 9-11 years. The results from the online pupil survey revealed significant reductions in both bullying and victimisation, with a reduction from 16 to 9% in reported victimisation after one year. Furthermore, teacher data confirmed that teachers in the Welsh setting reported positively on the lesson structure and content and pupil engagement with the programme. Follow-up one year later showed that the reductions in self reported bullying and victimisation were maintained. The next step was to obtain funding for a small scale RCT in 20 primary schools across Wales targeting pupils aged 7-11 years. Final data are currently being collected.