This article has been brought to you by Slough Borough Council for the attention of all secondary schools.
Pupil Wellbeing in Secondary Schools
University College London (UCL) has published research examining the emotional engagement and wellbeing of children in secondary schools in England compared with other countries. Researchers analysed the Trends in International Maths and Science study, using data from 2019 and 2023. Findings show: between the end of primary and mid-secondary school, pupils’ level of emotional engagement fell in almost every country with data available, with the most pronounced fall in England; and in 2023, girls in England in year 9 were 22% less likely to strongly agree that they felt safe at school compared to 2019. The report considers the impact of pupil absences and calls for interventions to help boost secondary pupils’ emotional engagement, suggesting a focus on girls and issues around safety and the strength of peer relationships.
Read the research: Secondary pupils in England among the least emotionally engaged with school