The report is based on 40,037 anonymised responses to the Stirling Children’s Wellbeing Scale (SCWBS) during the 2022-2023 academic year. The SCWBS consists of 15 questions that assess a child’s wellbeing across four key areas. This report analyses the overall scores, subdomains, and responses to specific questions, shedding light on children’s emotional and mental health during this period.

Key Findings

• Overall Wellbeing: The average emotional wellbeing score was 41.2 out of 60, indicating moderate mental wellbeing.
• Subdomains: Positive Outlook (21.0/30) slightly exceeded Positive Emotional State (20.2/30).
• Distribution: 9.1% had poor mental wellbeing, 52% moderate, and 29.4% good.
• Year-on-Year: Overall wellbeing slightly decreased from the previous year, with minor shifts in responses.
• Regional Variations: The North had the highest wellbeing scores, while the Midlands had the lowest scores.

Question Responses

Perception of Social Support: The question “I think lots of people care about me” revealed diverse responses, with 4% feeling uncared for, 13% feeling cared for “not much of the time”. That’s around 5 children in an average class of 30!

Self-Perception and Accomplishments: For the question “I think there are many things I can be proud of,” 3% felt they had nothing to be proud of, and 9% “not much of the time”. That’s around 4 children in an average class of 30!

Measuring children’s wellbeing is a vital step in understanding their emotional health and fostering a supportive educational environment. BounceTogether’s report provides valuable insights for schools, even without prior wellbeing data. By contextualising their own findings and making regional comparisons, schools can tailor strategies to address their students’ unique mental health needs, enhancing their overall wellbeing and educational experience. This report underscores the importance of schools establishing their own wellbeing norms and engaging in long-term wellbeing tracking, allowing them to actively shape a supportive environment that promotes students’ long-term wellbeing.

To access the full report and dive deeper into the findings and recommendations, Click here.