Olweus Bully Victim Questionnaire survey data as part of mixed methodsresearch on the efficacy The Bullying Prevention Pack to prevent bullying

The main purpose of this research study was to explore teacher ability to use and examine the effects of a bullying prevention programme entitled the Bullying Prevention Pack (BPP). The BPP is designed to be an accessible teacher led intervention that puts the learner at the forefront of the discussion and activities with the aim of scaffolding a constructivist approach to knowledge creation on the subject of school bullying and the creation of preventative measures. Concordant with the aim of ascertaining teacher ability to use the BPP were a number of other related objectives as follows. • To ascertain how much assistance/coaching teachers would need to implement the BPP. This includes a review of the quality of the instructions of the BPP in terms of instructional clarity and ease of implementation. • To ascertain if the activities of the BBP are straightforward for learners to comprehend and enact. • To quantify via the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire if the ongoing implementation of the BPP makes a difference to the levels of victimisation within the research school over a period of six (2nd survey) and eighteen months (3rd survey). • To evaluate if the BPP can engender learner knowledge creation and metacognition around the topic of bullying and empower learners to help prevent bullying in their school. • To investigate if levels of empathy can be raised with regards to those victimised by bullying behaviour. The profiles of the research and control schools were all boys, designated disadvantaged, availing of Delivering Equal Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programmes and following the Stay Safe programme (as discussed in Chapter Two). Under the DEIS programme, the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL) supported by the Department of Education and Skills Social Inclusion Unit, provides its services to all DEIS Urban Band 1, Urban Band 2 and DEIS Post Primary schools (Department of Education and Skills, 2015). The HSCL was established in 1990 and since then has grown to provide services for 857 primary and secondary schools. One of the main objectives of the scheme is to maximise participation of children in the learning process, particularly those at risk of failure. The scheme focusses on encouraging parents and teachers to be pro-actively involved in children’s learning and to deal with issues that may prevent learning from happening such as involvement in bullying.