The effectiveness of peer support systems in challenging school bullying: the perspectives and experiences of teachers and pupils

This large-scale questionnaire survey (n=2313) has sought teachers' and pup ils' perceptions and experiences of peer support systems in challenging bul lying in U.K. (mainly English) secondary schools and colleges (n=51). In ge neral, these systems have been found to be effective in reducing the negati ve effects of bullying for victims. Collectively, the respondents also perc eive many important benefits to users of these systems, to peer supporters and to the school as a whole, including helping to create a socio-emotional climate of "care", The respondents also perceive problems with these syste ms and, importantly, how they have been overcome and might be further impro ved. (C) 1999 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents .