Please help us to keep this page up to date and useful by sending us any evaluation reports , research reports etc (or links to them) that you know of so we can help spread the word and learn from each other.

Reduction in exclusions in Barnet schools using restorative approaches

A recently published report from the London Borough of Barnet highlights the positive impact of restorative approaches in Barnet primary schools.

Over the past 6 years Transforming Conflict Director Dr Belinda Hopkins, has delivered restorative skills training to staff from over 16 schools as well as local authority staff and staff from PRU’s and residential homes. She has worked closely with Mari Martin, the Restorative Approaches in Schools Coordinator for Barnet Youth offending team. Mari has supported the schools post-training, running refresher groups, training for parents who want to find out more about restorative parenting, offering advice and encouragement.

The study focuses on the 16 primary schools and findings include:

- a reduction in exclusions in RA trained schools of 51% compared to a 65% increase in exclusions in the 32 Barnet schools that have received no RA training.

- increased confidence amongst staff in handling of bullying and conflicts

- improved sense of responsibility amongst young people fro their behaviour

- calmer safer school environment

- more positive school ethos

Read the full report :

Barnet 007098_RA Evaluation A4 Booklet final version (2).pdf

New Crime and Justice Website for Students

Students focusing on crime and justice topics are invited to share information and resources on a new website www.crimestudents.org. The site is designed for undergraduates, postgraduates and school students.

The site contains useful crime and justice resources, news articles and information about events. Members of the site can add information and are invited to discuss topical crime and justice issues, support their fellow students with queries and blog about what they’re currently studying. The site is also a central point to view opportunities for study at undergraduate, masters and postgraduate level on topics related to crime and justice.

Those involved in teaching may want to bring the site to the attention to their students and refer students to the collection of crime and justice resources on the site. Teachers may also want to use the site as a teaching aid, perhaps asking students to discuss crime and justice topics on the site or maintain a blog for a period of time, thus encouraging reflective consideration outside tutorials.

The site has been developed by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research and is supported by a group of student and teacher facilitators. If you have any comments or queries about the site please feel free to post these on the site or contact Claire Lightowler directly, enquiries@sccjr.ac.uk , 01786 467716.

The Transforming Conflict team is proud to have been involved in the Scottish Restorative Practices in Schools pilot project

The Transforming Conflict team is proud to have been involved in the Scottish Restorative Practices in Schools pilot project, training over a hundred senior managers in schools in North Lanarkshire and Fife . Read the evaluation of the project of which this training was a part:

August 2007

Restorative Practices in Three Scottish Councils: Final Report of the Evaluation of the First Two Years of the Pilot Projects 2004-2006

In 2004 The Scottish Executive established a 30-month pilot project in Restorative Practices in three Local Authorities The pilot project was later extended until 2008. On 27th August the Scottish Executive launched the final report evaluating the 18 pilots.

The report indicates that Restorative Practices, "as they are developing in the pilot Local Authorities and schools, can offer a powerful and effective approach to promoting harmonious relationships in school and to the successful resolution of conflict and harm."

Executive  Summary:
 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/23161140

Full Report:
 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/24093135  

Final Report:
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/positivebehaviour/approaches/restorative/publications/rpshortreport.asp

Director of Transforming Conflict, Belinda Hopkins, completed her doctoral research at Reading University on the implementation of restorative approaches in schools 

After nearly six years of part-time study Belinda has now successfully defended her thesis on the implementation of restorative approaches in schools and is now Dr Hopkins. Using a unique synthesis of participatory action research and narrative enquiry which she has termed ‘restorative research methodology’ Belinda has explored in three distinct case studies, the journeys of educationalists as they implement restorative approaches in their schools. The findings are timely and will benefit all those trying to do something similar in their own school or area.

A book on this research will be following in due course but in the meantime if anyone wants to read the thesis please e-mail Belinda on Belinda@transformingconflict.org and she can send you the pdf ‘read only’ version.

Implementing a restorative approach in schools

Learn from Dr Belinda Hopkins’ doctoral research and the Transforming Conflict team’s experiences. Several useful sheets about implementing a whole school approach are freely available. (for more info. click links below)

Implementing a restorative approach in schools

Implementing a restorative approach in a local authority

Developing an emotionally literate relationship and behaviour management policy

5 steps to implementation

evaluation from the North West of Ireland about some pilot projects in schools there.

a)   A report about restorative practice in Letterkenny Vocational School by ex-headteacher Patrick O’Connor click here

b)     An interim evaluation on restorative practices. click here

c)     An executive summary of the pilot project in North-West Ireland click here

NATIONAL EVALUATION
Read the evaluation of the Youth Justice Board funded project Restorative Justice in Schools, in which 8 Youth Offending Teams took part:
Click here

Contact Us
Telephone: 00 44 (0) 118 933 1520
Fax: 00 44 (0) 118 933 1520
E-mail: info@transformingconflict.org