A study evaluating the Ben Kinsella Trust’s Choices and Consequences programme, a school-based knife crime prevention programme for Year 6 pupils

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Knife crime and serious youth violence remain important concerns in England. There is growing interest in preventing violence early, before children become involved in knife carrying or other harmful behaviour. However, there is currently limited strong evidence about whether school-based knife crime education programmes are effective.

Choices and Consequences is an educational workshop about knife crime and safety delivered by the Ben Kinsella Trust. It aims to help children understand the consequences of knife crime, reflect on peer influence and decision-making, and build confidence to make safer choices.

This study aims to find out whether Choices and Consequences works under ideal conditions. In particular, it will test whether Year 6 pupils who receive Choices and Consequences show reduced willingness or intentions to carry a knife compared with pupils who continue with their usual school provision. The study will also look at whether the workshop affects related outcomes including empathy, prosocial behaviour, peer relationships and mental wellbeing. Alongside this, the researchers will explore how the programme is delivered in practice, how pupils and schools experience it, and whether there are any unintended or negative effects.

Who can participate?
Year 6 pupils aged approximately 10–11 years attending participating mainstream primary schools in or near the areas served by BKT’s exhibition centres in Islington, Barking and Dagenham, and Nottingham.

Choices and Consequences is a universal programme, meaning it is intended for all pupils in participating classes rather than only children identified as being at risk of knife crime or violence. Pupils will not take part if their parent or carer chooses to opt them out, and pupils themselves can choose not to participate.

What does the study involve?
This is a two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial. In plain English, this means whole Year 6 classes, rather than individual pupils, will be allocated at random to one of two groups:

1. The Choices and Consequences group.
2. The control group, who will continue with business as usual, meaning their normal school curriculum, pastoral provision and safeguarding arrangements.

Choices and Consequences is a one-off, two-hour workshop delivered at one of BKT’s purpose-built exhibition spaces. The workshop combines facilitated discussion, visual displays, short films, interactive activities and immersive theatre. Pupils explore the personal, social and legal consequences of knife crime alongside topics such as peer influence, responsibility, decision-making, first aid and staying safe.

Pupils in both groups will complete questionnaires before classes are randomly allocated, approximately 1–2 weeks after the workshop, and around one school term later. Pupils who receive Choices and Consequences will also complete a short questionnaire immediately after the workshop.

The main outcome is pupils’ willingness or intentions to carry a knife. Other outcomes include prosocial behaviour, peer relationships, empathy and mental wellbeing.

The study also includes an implementation and process evaluation. This means the researchers will look at how Choices and Consequences is delivered, what helps or gets in the way of successful delivery, how pupils and schools experience the programme, and whether different groups of pupils experience it differently.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Possible benefits are that pupils who take part in Choices and Consequences may develop a better understanding of the consequences of knife crime, reflect on peer influence and decision-making, and feel more confident about making safe choices. The study will also help build evidence about whether educational approaches of this kind can help prevent knife carrying and serious youth violence.

The workshop and questionnaires include potentially sensitive topics relating to knife crime, violence, safety and wellbeing, which some pupils may find upsetting. To reduce this risk, the workshop is delivered by trained staff, and schools are asked to share relevant information in advance so that appropriate support can be put in place. Pupils can take a break or stop participating if they wish, and schools’ usual safeguarding and pastoral arrangements remain in place. Any safeguarding concerns will be managed using agreed safeguarding procedures.

Where is the study run from?
The study is being run with primary schools in and around Islington, Barking and Dagenham, and Nottingham.

The Choices and Consequences programme is delivered by the Ben Kinsella Trust at its exhibition centres in Islington, Barking and Dagenham, and Nottingham. The independent evaluation is being carried out by Cordis Bright.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2026 to July 2028.

Who is funding the study?
The Youth Endowment Fund (UK).

Who is the main contact?
Matt Irani, Principal Investigator and Project Director, Cordis Bright, mattirani@cordisbright.co.uk
Madeleine Morrison, Co-Principal Investigator and Project Manager, Cordis Bright, madeleinemorrison@cordisbright.co.uk

Contact information

Study information

Eligibility

Locations

Countries of recruitment

• United Kingdom
• England

Study participating centre

Results and Publications

Editorial Notes

26/08/2026: Trial's existence confirmed by University of Portsmouth Research Ethics Committee.