Positive peer-cultures in Primary Schools: children’s views and experiences research

Welsh Government require the services of an appropriate supplier / organisation to conduct research to investigate Positive peer-cultures in Primary Schools to understand children’s views and experiences. The successful Bidder will be awarded a 12-month contract valued at approximately £60,000 exc. VAT and full details will be included in the tender documentation which will follow in Spring 2025.

The proposed project will use creative and participatory methods to generate qualitative data on how diverse groups of primary school-aged children understand how gender and sexual power relations shape their everyday peer cultures in school, in their community and online.

The project needs to address the lack of knowledge about children’s experiences of gender-based and sexual bullying and harassment in the context of their everyday lives and enable the children’s own views and experiences to inform and shape future research, policies and practice.

The core aim of the research contract is to explore address the lack of knowledge primary age children’s experiences of gender-based and sexual bullying and harassment in the context of their everyday lives. These findings will inform practitioners and policy makers to fully support children’s own understanding and experiences of why they feel the way they do, what it means for the way they act, and how things can change. The project will fulfil the Welsh Government’s commitment in the ‘Peer-on-peer sexual harassment in education settings’ - https://www.gov.wales/peer-peer-sexual-harassment-education-settings-action-plan Action plan - We will consider what research is needed to understand instances of peer-on-peer sexual harassment among primary school-aged children, drawing on the expertise and guidance of academics, children’s charities and the Children’s Commissioner for Wales as appropriate.

The successful bidder will collect the views of primary-aged children across north, south, and mid-Wales. The sample will ensure the inclusion of children from a diverse mix of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, covering urban, suburban, and semi-rural areas, and economically prosperous and disadvantaged communities.

It is anticipated that the project will involve at least six primary schools, with a minimum of one Welsh-medium school. Approximately 100 children, aged 9–11, will take part in the study.

Full details of the contract requirement and outputs will be provided in the tender documentation, but we anticipate the successful Bidder will deliver various research methods including conducting sensitive interviews and groups, as well as using creative and participatory methods. The outputs will include a research report and an executive summary. We would also like to encourage bidders to provide outputs including research infographics, a short film communicating key findings, case studies and activities for schools.

At this stage we are only seeking interest from suppliers with the appropriate skills, expertise, capability and security checks to deliver the contract so please only register interest if you can explore the ethical challenges of undertaking research in an education setting with children and young people on sensitive issues. If you meet the criteria outlined, then please register your interest via this sell2wales notice by the 27th March 2025.