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The FRIENDS Programme: an evaluation of academic and emotional health outcomes

Evaluating the efficacy of the FRIENDS programme in improving academic attainment and emotional health in primary-aged children in England: a cluster-randomised control trial

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ISRCTN
Registry ID
ISRCTN13721202
Enrollment
3300
Registered
2016-02-17
Start date
2016-01-01
Completion date
Unknown
Last updated
2025-09-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Worry, anxiety, depression Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Interventions

We will be approaching approximately 80 schools to participate in the research. The trial will be cluster-randomised, utilising matched-pair randomisation at the class level (utilising Key Stage 1 an
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Sponsors

University of Manchester (UK)
Lead Sponsor

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Born between 01/09/2004 and 31/08/2005 (within school year 5 for the 2015/2016 academic cohort) 2. Attending a mainstream state-funded primary school within Kent Local Authority 3. Primary school has not previously delivered FRIENDS

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Does not meet inclusion criteria

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
1. Academic Attainment (as measured by combined Key Stage 2 English and Maths scores) - July 2016 2. Self-rated worry (as measured by the Penn State Worry Questionnaire for Children (PSWQ-C) - Jan-Mar 2016/December 2016

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
1. Anxiety & depression (as measured by the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-30)) - Jan-Mar 2016/December 2016 2. Wellbeing (as measured by the Kidscreen 27) - Jan-Mar 2016/December 2016 3. Health-related quality of life (as measured by the Child Health Utility D9) - Jan-Mar 2016/December 2016 4. Teacher-rated difficulties (as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)) - Jan-Mar 2016/December 2016

Countries

England, United Kingdom

Contacts

Public ContactMichael Wigelsworth
Michael.wigelsworth@manchester.ac.uk+44 (0)161 306 1763

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026