We are delighted to have launched the 'United Against Bullying: Whole School Anti-Bullying Programme - Impact Report, 2021-2024'. This report summarises the achievements of the United Against Bullying programme, with the data analysis section focusing on results from our Silver and Gold award schools.
The information in this report is based on an independent evaluation of the programme by a team of independent researchers from Goldsmiths, University of London, led by Professor Peter Smith.
Read the United Against Bullying Impact Report here.
Find out more about the United Against Bullying programme here.
What was the United Against Bullying programme?
United Against Bullying (UAB) was a whole-school anti-bullying programme for schools in England, which launched in November 2021 and ran until March 2024. The programme’s overall aim was to establish ‘United Against Bullying Schools’ that evidenced their work to reduce bullying and improve the wellbeing of all pupils, with a particular focus on those children who are most vulnerable and more likely to be victims of bullying behaviour, including pupils in receipt of free school meals (FSM) and pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The programme was funded by the Department for Education in England and delivered by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA).
“I believe this programme to be invaluable, it has been the driving force behind improvements to our whole-school approach to antibullying and I cannot thank the team enough for their excellent work in maintaining this wonderful programme.”
– United Against Bullying School
Summary of findings:
“The programme has meant that we have been able to really look deeply at the reasons why some children may be absent due to bullying and we feel that our relationships with parents have been strengthened through the ABA parental support letters (e.g. on Odd Sock Day) - also offering parents strategies for supporting their children.”
– United Against Bullying School
Who took part?
Over all three phases of the programme, 2,400 schools signed up. Of those 844 went on to fully complete programme steps and 746 schools achieved a United Against Bullying award:
Our online CPD certified anti-bullying e-learning courses were accessed 141,009 times by professionals, with 85% of participants reporting that their confidence had increased as a result of completing the training.
We also delivered live training sessions, either via Zoom or in-person, to 1,560 school and children’s workforce staff, 96% of whom rated them ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.
What did we achieve?
Schools who took part in the United Against Bullying programme reported that:
- Bullying reduced in their school – 73%
- They felt more confident in preventing and responding to bullying as a result of the programme – 96%
- Staff had an improved confidence in preventing and addressing bullying among pupils with SEND – 96%
- They understood the most effective principles of prevention and response to bullying as a result of the programme – 97%
- Attainment improved in their school – 38%
- Behaviour improved in their school – 72%
- Attendance improved in their school – 40%
“From our pupil data - along with our newly improved data recording system for 23/24 that we implemented as a result of attending the UAB live CPD, we have been able to address discrimination, bullying and interpersonal and relationship conflicts with more purposeful and targeted intervention.”
– United Against Bullying School