Pupil wellbeing is more important to parents than Ofsted ratings and grades
and the 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 Society, Fair Education Alliance and Pro Bono Economics, is leading the 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鈥檚 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 ().
We have a moral imperative to address the low levels of wellbeing among young people in the UK. By measuring wellbeing, we can begin to understand the experiences of young people and the issues they recognise as important for their wellbeing. With this knowledge, we can implement targeted solutions to overcome barriers, ensure all young people have the opportunities they deserve, grow up healthy and happy and believe success belongs to them.
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鈥檚 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.
鈥淭hrough 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鈥檙e 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."
Ben Levinson OBE, executive headteacher at Kensington Primary School and chair of the Well school collective, said:
"As a parent, headteacher and chair of the Well School Collective, I have always been a strong advocate for prioritising children's wellbeing within schools. Supporting positive mental and physical health has been at the heart of my approach at Kensington Primary School, and I鈥檓 proud to say that this focus has played a key role in our Outstanding Ofsted grade. By establishing strong wellbeing practices in primary schools, we help parents see the importance of continuing this focus as they look ahead to secondary education. Wellbeing and school excellence are not competing priorities; they are complementary, essential elements that drive success. That is why it鈥檚 so encouraging to see more parents recognising this; when we support wellbeing, we鈥檙e creating the conditions for every young person to flourish, and it鈥檚 vital that schools and parents work together to make this a priority."
The experts also say that investing in wellbeing is not just a moral imperative - it also makes economic sense. They point to research from which highlights the substantial financial benefits of prioritising wellbeing, estimating that tackling low wellbeing among young people could deliver billions
To find out more about the national wellbeing measurement programme campaign, visit .