We know that the transition from primary to secondary school can be difficult for many students.
There are many ‘unknown’ factors that can cause a great amount of anxiety and stress in young people – including which school they might get into, whether they will struggle to make new friends, or even how often detentions are handed out! These factors - combined with their age-related development and external pressures such as SATs – can lead to a decline in mental wellbeing during Year 6 and in the lead up to Year 7.
The Statistics Show...
Sources: Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2023 - wave 4 follow up to the2017 survey - NHS Digital. New NHS Data shows school absence rates are higher in children with a probable mental health disorder - 30 November 2022 - Children’s Commissioner.
14.7%
of children aged 8–10 with a 'possible or probable mental disorder' missed 15+ days of schools each year between 2021–2023
​A 2023 NHS report
found that more than
1 in 5 – 20.3%
of 8 to 16 year olds had
a ‘probable mental disorder'
​Children report
mental health as being the second biggest barrier to achieving success in their future lives
Increased demand on teaching and support staff can lead to reduced resource.
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Teachers and school staff are required to spend more time managing students' emotional and behavioural needs, reducing focus on teaching.
There is also a higher demand for pastoral care and intervention from counsellors or safeguarding teams. Teachers can struggle with the emotional strain of supporting their students, increasing the risk of burnout and job dissatisfaction.
Unhappy children can lead to unhappy households
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Anxious children can lead to anxious parents, and this can set off an ever-increasing circle of anxiety at home – particularly when parents are working full-time, and quality parent/child time is limited.
Decline in attendance and academic performance impacts negatively on students and their school alike
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Poor mental health leads to absenteeism and lower engagement, resulting in lower overall academic outcomes for the school. Performance metrics, like exam results and Ofsted evaluations, may be negatively impacted.
A school’s reputation is at risk if it isn’t seen to be supporting its students as fully as possible.
