School Bullying and Educational Achievement: Final Report

For several years, the Department for Education of South Australia has been compiling a database recording student wellbeing and achievement sourced from the state’s 550 schools. This significant database afforded the unique opportunity for Flinders University in collaboration with the Department for Education to conduct research into the longer- term effect of bullying on reading and math achievement. The purpose of this study, using longitudinal data, was to determine whether students not involved in acts of bullying nevertheless show diminished academic achievement when attending schools with a higher prevalence of bullying. The research was funded by a Flinders University Innovation Partnership Seed Grant entitled “School Bullying and Educational Achievement” awarded to Drs. Phillip Slee and Grace Skrzypiec (Flinders University). A progress report for this grant was provided in 2020. The research findings contained in this report represent a significant contribution to research scholarship on student wellbeing and bullying prevention. It was also the aim of this study to contribute knowledge towards improving the numeracy and literacy of all South Australian students in accordance with the Department’s strategic plans. Bullying prevention necessitates a whole-of-community response, represented in the South Australian Government’s Bullying Prevention Strategy, which focuses on prevention both inside and outside the school gates.