Evaluation of the Trauma Informed Schools UK training and implementation
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN64982435 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN64982435 |
- Submission date
- 15/04/2025
- Registration date
- 22/08/2025
- Last edited
- 22/08/2025
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
This study aims to find out if training school staff in trauma-informed approaches through the TISUK programme can improve behaviour and mental wellbeing in Year 8 pupils. The study will compare 100 schools that receive the TISUK training with those that continue their usual practices.
Who can participate?
The study involves Year 8 pupils and school staff from the participating schools.
What does the study involve?
Schools will be randomly assigned to either receive the TISUK training or continue with their usual practices. The TISUK training includes various components such as whole staff training, senior leadership training, network consultancy support, diploma practitioner training, reflective supervision workshops, and webinars for staff and pupils. Data will be collected at the start and 15 months later to see if the training is effective.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit from improved behaviour and mental wellbeing. There are no significant risks associated with participating in this study.
Where is the study run from?
Ipsos UK
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2023 to December 2025.
Who is funding the study?
Youth Endowment Fund (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Facundo Herrera, facundo.herrera@ipsos.com
Contact information
Public, Scientific, Principal Investigator
222 Avenue Extension Road
Clarendon Park
Leicester
LE2 3EL
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-2869-1419 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 7947443259 |
| facundo.herrera@ipsos.com |
Study information
| Study design | Two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial with random allocation at the school level |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Cluster randomised trial |
| Study setting(s) | School |
| Study type | Efficacy |
| Participant information sheet | 47194 TISUK Evaluation Information Sheet - Parents information sheet and opt-out.pdf |
| Scientific title | Evaluation of the Trauma Informed Schools UK (TISUK) training and implementation: A cluster randomised controlled trial |
| Study objectives | TISUK training for school staff will reduce externalising behaviours in Year 8 pupils, measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) combined conduct and hyperactivity scores. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 01/11/2023, Ethics Board at Ipsos UK (3 Thomas More St, London, E1W 1YW, United Kingdom; +44 203 0595000; ukpaethicsforms@ipsos.com), ref: 23-019045-01 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Externalising behaviour, internalising behaviour, mental wellbeing in school children |
| Intervention | Treatment group: TISUK training involves 6 components: (1) Whole staff training (two 3-hour sessions); (2) Senior leadership training (2-day session for 5-7 SLT members); (3) Network consultancy support (three meetings with TISUK consultants); (4) Diploma practitioner training (11-day comprehensive training for 5-7 staff); (5) Reflective supervision workshops (for 2 diploma-trained practitioners); (6) Webinars for staff and pupils (4 webinars with discussion guides). The intervention aims to create trauma-informed policies and practices throughout the school over four terms (Jan 2024-Mar 2025). Control group: Business-as-usual, with schools continuing their existing approaches to behaviour management and pupil support. Control schools will complete surveys about their current mental health/wellbeing training and initiatives at baseline, 6 months and 12 months to monitor any changes in practice during the trial period. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | Externalising behaviour measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) combined conduct and hyperactivity scale scores (0-20) at baseline (October-December 2023) and 15 months post-baseline (March-April 2025). |
| Secondary outcome measures | 1. Internalising behaviour measured by the SDQ emotional and peer problems subscales (0-20) at baseline and 15 months post-baseline 2. Prosocial behaviour measured by the SDQ prosocial behaviour subscale (0-10) at baseline and 15 months post-baseline 3. Total difficulties measured by the SDQ total difficulties score (0-40) at baseline and 15 months post-baseline 4. Non-psychotic psychological distress measured by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) at baseline and 15 months post-baseline 5. Well-being measured by the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS, 7-35) at baseline and 15 months post-baseline 6. School connectedness measured using the School Connectedness Scale at baseline and 15 months post-baseline 7. School exclusions and suspensions measured using administrative school records at baseline and 15 months post-baseline 8. School attendance measured using administrative school records at baseline and 15 months post-baseline 9. Staff attitudes to trauma-informed care measured by the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) survey at baseline and 15 months post-baseline 10. Staff well-being measured by the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS) at baseline and 15 months post-baseline 11. Staff retention and sickness measured using administrative school records at baseline and 15 months post-baseline |
| Overall study start date | 01/06/2023 |
| Completion date | 31/12/2025 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Learner/student |
|---|---|
| Age group | Child |
| Lower age limit | 12 Years |
| Upper age limit | 13 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 16,000 |
| Total final enrolment | 13393 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Year 8 pupils (2023/2024 cohort) in secondary schools in target geographical areas |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Schools with staff who completed TISUK 11-day diploma 2. Schools that received TISUK whole staff training in last 3 years 3. Schools that received intensive trauma-informed practice training from another provider in the last 3 years 4. Fee-paying schools 5. Alternative provision or special schools with SEMH focus |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/06/2023 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/09/2023 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
Saltash
PL12 6AE
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Industry
3 Thomas More St
London
E1W 1YW
England
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 2030595000 |
|---|---|
| tisuk@ipsosresearch.com | |
| Website | https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk |
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Private sector organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
- Alternative name(s)
- YouthEndowFund, YEF
- Location
- United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/12/2025 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Stored in publicly available repository |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a peer-reviewed journal |
| IPD sharing plan | The participant-level data will be anonymised and stored securely according to data protection regulations. Data will be available through the Youth Endowment Fund's data archive after the trial completion, estimated to be available by March 2026. Participant consent for data sharing has been obtained via opt-out consent procedures. Researchers wishing to access the data will need to apply through the Youth Endowment Fund's formal data access request process, with appropriate ethical approvals in place. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | 29/04/2025 | No | Yes | ||
| Protocol file | version 14 | 22/07/2024 | 29/04/2025 | No | No |
| Statistical Analysis Plan | version 7 | 23/07/2024 | 29/04/2025 | No | No |
Additional files
Editorial Notes
15/04/2025: Trial's existence confirmed by Youth Endowment Fund
