...with Dr Julia Badger

In this episode of #Psychologyintheclassroom bullying expert Dr Julia Badger, from Oxford University discusses her conference talk, “Peer Power: Understanding and Changing Bullying Dynamics in Mainstream and Specialist Special Schools.” Bullying is a public health priority. As teachers we need to know about bullying involvement and its impact. In this conversation Julia explores the challenges of defining bullying, introduces the concept of “counter connecting,” and highlights the unique experiences of children with SEND. She shares evidence-based strategies, including the KIVA program and its SEND adaptation, emphasizing whole-school approaches and community involvement.

• Definition and complexity of bullying in educational settings.

• Proposal of a new inclusive definition of bullying, particularly for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

• Introduction of the concept of "counter connecting" and its implications in bullying dynamics.

• Differences in bullying experiences between mainstream and special schools.

• The disproportionate impact of bullying on children with SEND.

• Variations in bullying types (verbal, physical, relational, cyberbullying) across different school environments.

• The psychological and emotional effects of bullying on victims, perpetrators, and bully-victims.

• Importance of whole-school anti-bullying programs and community involvement.

• Evidence-based interventions for bullying prevention, such as the KIVA program.

• The need for clear policies and shared understanding of bullying among educators, parents, and students.

Links:

Dr Julia Badger: https://www.education.ox.ac.uk/person/julia-badger/

KIVA: https://www.kivaprogram.net/

WISDOM Network: https://wisdom.mhid.org.uk/

Podcast with Lucy Bowes: https://changingstatesofmind.libsyn.com/bullying-its-everybodys-problem

Podcast with Chris Tayloe: https://changingstatesofmind.libsyn.com/constructive-deviance-with-chris-taylor