Coalition on Youth Mental Health in Schools Launches Phase Two

In October 2021, Public First brought together an extraordinary coalition of some of the most respected schools in the independent and state sectors to call for radical reform of how mental health is supported in educational settings.

The subsequent report – which called for an overhaul of counselling and PSHE in secondaries while also demanding a step change in the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services – can be read here.

Given the reception our research received, both in the national media, but also among schools and the wider education community, the coalition is pleased to announce that it is reconvening (including welcoming new members) to trial a selection of recommendations from the report and share best practice.

The coalition, which straddles some of England’s most respected independent schools and highest performing multi-academy trusts in the state sector, is made up of:

• Alleyn’s School
• Lady Eleanor Holles School
• David Ross Educational Trust
• Eton College
• Oasis Community Learning
• Reach Academy, Feltham
• Star Academies
• St Paul’s School
• Wellington College
• Danes Educational Trust

The schools will now trial recommendations from our phase one study in three working groups made up of both independent schools and multi-academy trusts:

• Leading in a mentally healthy school

Examining what best practice looks like as a headteacher/principal leading in a mentally healthy school. This will include how they set and embed the tone and culture for the whole school’s approach to mental health (including inclusion practices), provide clear leadership and strategy for school improvement (including measuring pupil wellbeing and data collection), engage with other teachers, schools, parents, carers and local services, and make financial decisions about resource allocation to mental health support.

• Teaching in a mentally healthy school

Examining what best practice looks like as a teacher teaching in a mentally healthy school. This will include exploring what makes for highly effective teacher wellbeing support, as well as the quality and usefulness of mental health training and CPD opportunities.

• Studying in a mentally healthy school

Examining what best practice looks like as a pupil studying in a mentally healthy school, and how the partnership between senior leaders, teachers and all school staff, as well as parents, carers and the wider community, translates for the pupil experience. This will include how the student voice is heard, the physical space in which mental health support is provided, successful examples of peer-to-peer support and pupils’ experience of timetabled PSHE lessons.

The coalition will test the recommendations through a combination of schools visits and evidence sessions in order to share best practice. Our findings will inform a new report – authored by the coalition schools – launched in late spring.

For more information about the workings of the coalition, please contact Ed Shackle on [email protected] or Holly Papworth on [email protected].