WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

The UK government wants every school and college to have a designated lead in mental health by 2025. The designated lead will be a trained member of staff who is responsible for the school’s approach to mental health.

Transforming children and young people’s mental health provision:
— a green paper, UK Department of Education, 2018

Pupils and are more likely to engage in lessons that focus on emotional wellbeing if they are of practical application and relevant to them.
— Public Health England, 2015

On average, SEL interventions have an identifiable and valuable impact on attitudes to learning and social relationships in school. They also have an average overall impact of four months’ additional progress on attainment. Improvements appear more likely when SEL approaches are embedded into routine educational practices and supported by professional development and training for staff.
— Educational Endowment Foundation

81% of young people said that they would like their school or college to teach them more about how to look after their mental health.
— YoungMinds

Inspectors will make a judgement on the personal development of learners by evaluating the extent to which: the curriculum and the provider’s wider work support learners to develop their character – including their resilience, confidence and independence and help them know how to keep physically and mentally healthy.
— Draft Ofsted Framework, January 2019