Date Published: March 17, 2025
Student wellbeing has seen a significant rise in attention in recent years, particularly following its addition to the Ofsted framework. As schools increasingly recognise their role in supporting pupils’ mental, physical, and emotional health, prioritising wellbeing has never been more important.
In this article, we explore five practical and cost-effective ways to promote student wellbeing within your school community.
What is Student Wellbeing?
Student wellbeing refers to a pupil’s overall state of happiness, health, and sense of fulfilment, both within themselves and within the school environment. It encompasses mental, emotional, and physical health, focusing on creating a supportive atmosphere where students can thrive.
Wellbeing in schools involves more than just supporting students when they are in crisis. It is about embedding a culture that nurtures resilience, self-awareness, positive relationships, and personal growth every day.
Why is Student Wellbeing Important for Schools?
The importance of promoting student wellbeing cannot be overstated. Mental health conditions are on the rise among young people, with more than one in ten children aged 5–10 now experiencing an identifiable mental health issue.
Although wellbeing and mental health are distinct concepts, they are closely connected. Schools that prioritise wellbeing contribute to better mental health outcomes, resulting in:
- Happier students: Pupils who feel supported are more likely to enjoy school and build positive relationships.
- Improved academic performance: Good wellbeing reduces barriers to learning such as anxiety, stress, and disengagement.
- Better behaviour: Students who feel understood and valued are less likely to exhibit disruptive behaviour.
- Positive school culture: A whole-school commitment to wellbeing creates a more compassionate and inclusive environment.
Given the significant influence schools have on young people’s lives, promoting wellbeing is both a moral responsibility and a strategic opportunity to improve outcomes.
Is Supporting Wellbeing Expensive?
Understandably, cost is one of the most common barriers to expanding wellbeing initiatives. School budgets are already under immense pressure due to factors such as rising energy costs, increased staffing expenses, and limited government funding.
However, promoting wellbeing does not have to be expensive. Many impactful strategies are low-cost or entirely free. Below are five practical ideas that any school can adopt to support student wellbeing, regardless of budget constraints.
Five Effective Strategies to Promote Student Wellbeing
1. Teach Mindfulness Techniques
Mindfulness helps students stay grounded, manage their emotions, and respond calmly to stress. Incorporating mindfulness into the school day can be simple and cost-effective.
Ideas include:
- Leading a brief breathing exercise during assemblies
- Offering lunchtime drop-in sessions for mindfulness or meditation
- Equipping form tutors with simple mindfulness resources for morning registration
Mindfulness sessions can be developed using free online resources, making them an affordable and accessible starting point for wellbeing initiatives.
2. Make Wellbeing Fun
Wellbeing activities should be enjoyable if you want students to engage fully. Plan fun, light-hearted activities such as:
- Lunchtime arts and crafts sessions
- Outdoor team games
- Gardening projects or eco clubs
Allow students to have a say in the activities offered. Gathering student suggestions ensures that activities are genuinely engaging and inclusive. Remember, not every student will enjoy the same activities, so variety is key to sustained interest.
3. Focus on Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities play a significant role in promoting wellbeing. Clubs and societies offer students opportunities to:
- Build social skills
- Develop confidence
- Stay physically and mentally active
Senior leaders can promote extracurricular engagement by ensuring a wide range of options are available—balancing sports, music, arts, and other creative pursuits.
Financial barriers can limit access for some students. To address this, consider:
- Offering free clubs where possible
- Setting up a bursary fund to support students who cannot afford club fees
Creating an inclusive extracurricular offer ensures that all students have opportunities to enhance their wellbeing.
4. Invest in Staff Training
Staff are on the front lines when it comes to promoting student wellbeing. Training staff to recognise and respond to wellbeing issues equips them to:
- Identify early signs of mental health difficulties
- Offer appropriate support
- Refer pupils to further help if needed
While professional training involves some investment, it can have a lasting positive impact. Trained staff feel more confident and capable, and students benefit from a more informed and responsive school environment.
Options include:
- Mental health first aid training
- Courses on trauma-informed practice
- CPD sessions focused on wellbeing strategies
Making wellbeing a key part of staff development planning demonstrates a whole-school commitment to the issue.
5. Use a Free Student Wellbeing Audit
Understanding the current state of student wellbeing is the first step to improvement. Satchel Pulse’s free Student Wellbeing Audit provides schools with a benchmark of student sentiment.
Developed by experts in psychology, research, and SEND, this audit offers statistically valid insights without the cost of a paid survey tool. Schools can use the findings to:
- Identify strengths and areas for improvement
- Inform the development of targeted wellbeing initiatives
- Monitor changes in wellbeing over time
By using free tools like the Wellbeing Audit, schools can adopt a data-driven approach to wellbeing improvement without putting additional strain on their budgets.
Find out more and sign up for your free audit here.
Conclusion: Prioritising Student Wellbeing is Essential
Promoting student wellbeing is not just an optional extra—it is fundamental to creating a thriving, successful school community.
By embedding practical, accessible initiatives into everyday school life, leaders can support pupils’ happiness, health, and achievement without overwhelming their budgets.
Whether through teaching mindfulness, offering fun activities, strengthening extracurricular options, investing in staff training, or leveraging free tools like wellbeing audits, every action you take matters.
In the process, you create a school environment where every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed—not just academically, but personally too.
