#BeeWell and the Youth Sports Trust are calling on the government to implement a national wellbeing measurement programme to address the needs of children and young people, after polling found that most parents, guardians and carers consider pupil wellbeing before Ofsted ratings and academic achievement when choosing a secondary school for their children.
The findings come as Ofsted is asking parents, guardians and carers to shape the content of new report school cards, including what should be prioritised in inspections.
A YouGov survey of more than 1,000 parents, guardians and carers co-funded by #BeeWell and the Youth Sport Trust found that 66% of parents selected pupil wellbeing as an important consideration, more so than other factors such as school location (62%), facilities (61%), school culture and ethos (56%) and Ofsted rating (52%). Notably, only 43% of parents cited exam results as a key factor in their decision.
Further reinforcing this trend, 64% of parents agreed that pupil wellbeing is more important than academic achievement.
While parents overwhelmingly value pupil wellbeing, the research highlights a gap between this priority and the support parents perceive is currently available in schools overall. Nearly half (49%) of parents believe that schools need to do more to support student wellbeing, a concern that is particularly pronounced among younger aged parents. Evidence suggests that improving wellbeing not only benefits young people’s personal development, but also enhances their long-term academic success.
#BeeWell and the Youth Sports Trust argue that measuring wellbeing provides crucial insights into the experiences of young people, helping policymakers and educators to implement targeted interventions that promote positive mental health. 75% of parents agree that measuring young people’s wellbeing is essential if we are to improve it – however, there is currently no nationwide system in place to assess and address wellbeing in a meaningful way.
In response to these findings, #BeeWell, with The Children’s Society, Fair Education Alliance and Pro Bono Economics, is leading the Our Wellbeing, Our Voice coalition of over 50 organisations, including the Youth Sport Trust, who are urging the government to introduce a national wellbeing measurement programme. They say that by systematically tracking and responding to young people’s wellbeing, schools and policymakers can ensure that all children have the support they need to thrive. The wellbeing of young people across the UK remains consistently and substantially lower than peers internationally, and within the bottom 5% of countries surveyed .
Ali Oliver MBE, Chief Executive at Youth Sports Trust said:
“At the Youth Sport Trust, we know a child’s wellbeing is the foundation for their success, both in and out of the classroom, and physical activity including PE, sport and play is vital to their physical, social, and emotional development. When children are healthy and happy, they are ready to learn. It’s encouraging to see through these results more parents are recognising the critical link between wellbeing and academic and personal development, with many now prioritising it when choosing a secondary school. We believe measuring wellbeing can help track progress as well as ensuring support is targeted towards those with the greatest needs.
“Through our development of the Well School and Well School Trust movement, a growing collection of schools and trusts taking positive action to improve education outcomes by supporting the health and happiness of their staff and pupils, we are committed to helping make this a reality. In June, we’re introducing a free Well check service for schools which will help parents easily identify schools committed to nurturing wellbeing, while also supporting schools in creating environments where every young person can thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally.”
