Case Study: Supporting George.

Context: The Challenge Facing Schools Today

Schools across the UK face a pressing challenge: engaging students with complex social, emotional, and sensory needs, particularly those at risk of exclusion. These young people often experience high levels of dysregulation, peer conflict, and mistrust of adults. Their needs are not met by traditional behaviour systems and leave staff feeling ill-equipped to respond effectively.
 

For schools, the implications are significant:

· Staff time lost on reactive interventions

· Classroom disruption and loss of learning for classes

· A sense of burnout among educators

· Poor relationships and lack of belonging in the school community. 

· A culture that can feel like it is in continuous crisis

InsightBox is a UK based company supporting educators, students and families to understand how connections can be created, to support learners achieve and succeed, by building the best teams around them. To do this we combine AI technology with empathy to improve decision making. 

Our experience with George, a student previously considered “on the edge of exclusion,” shows how personalised, AI-supported approaches can change perspectives and improve relationships. 

When George (aged 15) agreed to work with us, he presented with frequent emotional outbursts, conflicts with peers, and escalating disengagement. He showed strong academic potential but was easily dysregulated by perceived slights, competition, or sensory overload. He often refused help, lashed out verbally, and saw interventions as punishments rather than support.

We began by applying the conflict resolution model, developed by Dr Luke Roberts, to address repeated incidents. The structured process helped him articulate emotions, understand peer impact, and develop alternative responses. Anne an expert in conflict resolution, also used social stories to help him further understand his perspective and the other people involved in his conflicts.
 

However, to move from reaction to prevention, the conflict resolution team decided to use AI technology to assess the network of relationships around George. InsightBox conducted personality and sensory assessments, powered by CrunchyID, with:

1. George
2.  Anne, Lucy, and James - His core teaching team.

 

The insights were transformative:

George, and two of the adults Anne, and Lucy—shared a ‘Tiger’ personality type, marked by drive, energy, and intensity.

· James had a ‘Fox’ profile, known for flexibility, calm, and emotional regulation—traits that complemented the George’s needs as a student.

·  The AI identified that over-competitiveness and leadership clashes among “Tigers” might be triggering, while a Fox’s diplomacy could de-escalate.

Although Anne continued to work closely with George, she did so with a deeper awareness of both her own traits and his needs. With support from the wider team, she was better able to recognise when to act—and when to stand back. 

The AI insights highlighted that the strong personalities shared by Anne, Lucy, and George(“Tigers”) could sometimes intensify tensions, especially in moments of stress or conflict. 

Greater awareness resulted in a more balanced approach which made interactions more predictable and engaging for George. By recognising early pressure points during challenging situations, and identifying solutions, the connection between George and the team was maintained.

 Why a relational approach needed evidence and insight:

For the School:

- Conflict is down, learning is up, especially for George.

 - Staff feel better equipped, less exhausted, and are able to tailor responses based on their and students' needs.

- There’s a clear, data-backed case for extending this approach to others students.

“ We’re retaining high-potential pupils rather than pushing them out” quote from Anne.

 
For the Young Person:

- He now trusts the adults around him.

- He feels understood, not managed. 

- He’s re-engaging with his learning and future possibilities as he transitions to further education or the world of work.  

With this new approach, we saw rapid results over 12 months:

- 80% reduction in conflict incidents involving George

 - Zero suspensions in the past two terms (previously two per term) 

- Attendance improved by 12% (now close to school average)

- Conflict-related staff hours reduced by approx. 60 hours per term

- Improved teacher-pupil relationships reported in staff feedback forms

In the teacher's own words:

“It’s still fiery, but now there’s a pause. A breath. A moment where he’s thinking rather than reacting. That’s the difference.” 

“The insight we’ve gained through InsightBox has reshaped our pastoral approach. These tools don’t replace relationships - they strengthen them, giving staff a deeper understanding of what lies beneath behaviour and how best to respond.”  

George is no longer “at risk of exclusion.” He is a young person with potential—and now, a clear map of support to help him realise it and provide evidence of his journey.  

The case of George vividly demonstrates the transformative power of a relational approach, amplified by AI-driven insights, in addressing the complex needs of vulnerable students. Traditional disciplinary models often fall short, leading to cycles of conflict, disengagement, and burnout for both students and staff. However, as InsightBox's work with George shows, by focusing on connection, understanding, and tailored support, schools can shift from a crisis-management culture to one of proactive nurturing and growth.

The integration of personality and sensory assessments, powered by CrunchyID, provided the critical insights needed to understand the underlying dynamics of George's relationships and his responses to perceived triggers. This allowed the core teaching team to move beyond reactive interventions and develop a strategic, preventative approach. Recognizing the "Tiger" personalities shared by George, Anne, and Lucy, and the calming influence of James's "Fox" profile, enabled the team to adjust their interactions, creating a more predictable and supportive environment for George. This wasn't about replacing human connection with technology, but rather strengthening those connections by providing educators with a deeper understanding of themselves and their students.

The quantitative results speak for themselves: an 80% reduction in conflict incidents, zero suspensions, improved attendance, and significantly reduced staff time spent on reactive measures. More profoundly, George's journey from being "on the edge of exclusion" to a student who trusts adults, feels understood, and is re-engaging with his learning, underscores the human impact of this approach. As Anne noted, the key difference lies in the "pause" George now takes, the moment of reflection before reacting.

This case study provides a compelling data-backed argument for extending this relational, AI-supported model to other students and schools. It highlights that by investing in understanding the intricate web of relationships and individual needs within the school community, educators can foster a culture of belonging, reduce conflict, and ultimately empower all young people to realize their full potential. InsightBox's approach offers a clear path forward for schools seeking to move beyond conventional limitations and embrace a more empathetic, effective, and sustainable way of supporting every student. We specialize in creating custom software solutions for businesses of all sizes. Our team of experienced developers can build software from scratch or work with existing code to create a product that meets your unique needs.