Evaluating the impact of implementing Restorative Approaches in Barnet Primary Schools Mari Martin, Barnet Youth Offending Team, Co-ordinator of ‘Restorative Approaches in Schools’ & Belinda Hopkins, Director, Transforming Conflict

 Excluded young people are more likely to get involved in crime: nearly two thirds of young offenders of school age who are sentenced in court have been excluded from school or truant significantly.  Children excluded from school tend to be those who have exhibited ongoing conduct problems and because of this tend to have poor relationships with teachers and often become viewed as ‘trouble makers’.  These children also tend to receive less encouragement and support and more criticism and disciplinary action. (Campbell & Ewing, 1990; cited in Webster-Stratton, 1994

Prevention Better than Cure  Barnet Youth Offending Service decided to develop provisions to support mainstream schools.  The strategy they used was to introduce Restorative Approaches into schools.

Aims of the Project  To reduce number of incidents involving bullying, inter- personal conflicts and victimisation in the primary schools selected  To reduce the number of fixed term and permanent exclusions from within the selected primary schools in the Borough of Barnet  To reduce the number of unauthorised absences in targeted schools  To improve staff and pupil perception of how victimisation is handled in schools  To increase staff confidence in dealing with challenging situations  To increase pupil responsibility for their actions and behaviours.

Three members of staff from five primary schools within the Behaviour Improvement Programme were chosen to go on initial training in 2004, provided by Transforming Conflict, in partnership with Barnet YOT.

The Project Now Comprises  17 Primary Schools  7 Secondary Schools  1 Pupil Referral Unit  1 Residential Care Home

Total Number of Staff Trained to Date  2004 – 15  2005 – 16  2006 – 24  2007 – 30  2008 – 29  2009 – 15  TOTAL - 129

For further details of the training provided to Barnet schools please contact: Mari Martin Transforming Conflict National Centre for Restorative Approaches in Youth Settings, Mortimer Hill, Mortimer Berks RG7 3PW Tel/fax