Written Statement: Publication of the School Health Research Network’s Student Health and Well-Being Survey in Primary Schools

I am pleased to note the publication of the Student Health and Well-Being Survey in Primary Schools report this week. This latest analysis from the School Health Research Network (SHRN) gives us crucial insights into what needs to be done to support learners. SHRN is a comprehensive study of the health and well-being of children and young people in Wales. This report highlights the value of SHRN, a collaborative partnership between Cardiff University, Welsh Government, and Public Health Wales. 

It is my priority to support children and young people’s mental health and well-being. SHRN enables us to hear directly from children and young people to better understand how they are doing and how we can better support them. In addition to the national reports, SHRN case studies demonstrate the practical steps schools make in response to their SHRN school data reports, and the impact these have on outcomes such as learner sleep, vaping, and peer relationships.  

Welsh Government is investing over £13 million annually in our Whole School Approach to mental health, with over £3 million going directly into school-based counselling, which saw almost 14,000 children and young people in the 2023/24 academic year. The results of SHRN surveys help shape these programmes and government priorities, including the Curriculum for Wales, Well-being of Future Generations Act, Mental Health Strategy, and Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales. We will also use these findings to inform our updated anti-bullying guidance for schools. 

I want to thank the children and young people, schools and teaching staff who have given their time to participating in this survey. We are committed listening to the findings and using these to improve the health and well-being of children and young people across Wales.