WELLBEING
Plus, being an unhappy child or young person doesn’t bode well for adulthood. Poor wellbeing might also be associated with loneliness, isolation and lower employment prospects, as well as poorer choices in terms of diet and exercise, which can then have an impact on health. While funding is incredibly tough, schools can make a huge difference. Embedding mental health and wellbeing in every aspect of school culture can be
invaluable. It can include everything from worry boxes to counselling sessions to warm, welcoming safe spaces that can be freely accessed if it all gets too much. Just seeing people around you modelling healthy adult relationships (head teachers who value their staff, teachers who respect each other) can pay dividends too. While everyone would agree that happy children learn better, it’s easy to forget that learning isn’t confined
“While schools face pressures from every direction – academic, philosophical and financial – they still occupy a hugely important place in children’s lives”
10 AUTUMN/WINTER 2025
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