title: Initiating change locally in bullying and aggression through the school environment (INCLUSIVE): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systematic reviews suggest that interventions that address school organisation are effective in reducing victimisation and bullying. We successfully piloted a school environment intervention modified from international studies to incorporate 'restorative justice' approaches. This trial aims to establish the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the INCLUSIVE intervention in reducing aggression and bullying in English secondary schools.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  cluster randomised trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 state-supported secondary schools. OUTCOMES assessed among the cohort of students in year 8 (n = approximately 6,000) in intervention year 1.
  
  
  METHODS
  INCLUSIVE is a school-led intervention which combines changes to the school environment with the promotion of social and emotional skills and restorative practices through: the formation of a school action group involving students and staff supported by an external facilitator to review local data on needs, determine priorities, and develop and implement an action plan for revising relevant school policies/rules and other actions to improve relationships at school and reduce aggression; staff training in restorative practices; and a new social and emotional skills curriculum. The intervention will be delivered by schools supported in the first two years by educational facilitators independent of the research team, with a third locally facilitated intervention year.Comparator: normal practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  primary: 2 primary outcomes at student level assessed at baseline and at 36 months:1. Aggressive behaviours in school: Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime school misbehaviour subscale (ESYTC)2. Bullying and victimisation: Gatehouse Bullying Scale (GBS)Secondary outcomes assessed at baseline, 24 and 36 months will include measures relating to the economic evaluation, psychosocial outcomes in students and staff and school-level truancy and exclusion rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 schools per arm will provide 90% power to identify an effect size of 0.25 SD with a 5% significance level.Randomisation: eligible consenting schools will be randomised stratified for single sex versus mixed sex schools, school-level deprivation and measures of school attainment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The trial will be run by independent research and intervention teams and supervised by a Trial Steering Committee and a Data Monitoring Committee (DMC).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN10751359 (Registered 11 March 2014).
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonell
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elbourne
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grieve
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: LeGood
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathiot
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Meg
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.affiliation: UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford St, London WC1N 1EH, UK. r.viner@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Russell M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Viner
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012107:Research Design; D012574:Schools / Q000191:economics; D066107:Social Skills; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology