Some pupils don't ask for help. We make sure they're heard and seen

Many pupils struggle silently with their feelings and without the right tools and strategies, they can go un-noticed, missing out on the support they need.

There are pupils like this in every school.

Explore 3x real-life anonymised stories showing how schools used BounceTogether to surface hidden emotional needs. The kind that don’t show up on safeguarding or behaviour logs.
Olivia - an example pupil in the story.

Olivia's Story

"She was never on our radar. We had no concerns"
Background
Olivia was in Year 5. Her attendance was strong. She was meeting age-related expectations across core subjects. She had no behavioural concerns and no flagged safeguarding issues. Staff described her as "quiet", "polite", and "well-behaved". In short: Olivia was not a pupil anyone was worried about.
When Olivia completed a BounceTogether wellbeing survey, her responses painted a very different picture. She scored low in multiple areas, including:
"I enjoy coming to school"
"Rarely"
"I feel good about myself"
"Almost never"
"I feel like I belong
"No"
There had been no outward signs. But her survey data revealed that Olivia was struggling emotionally, she felt unseen and disconnected from her peers
What happened next?
Olivia was identified for a quiet pastoral check-in. That conversation opened the door to regular, low-level support and weekly relationship-building work with a trusted adult. Olivia now has someone she can talk to. Her follow-up surveys show gradual improvements in self-esteem and school belonging. Olivia is the kind of pupil every school has. Academically “on track,” but emotionally disconnected.
Mohammad - an example pupil in the story wearing a brown/grey hoddie.

Mohammad's Story

"We were supporting him. But we couldn’t see if it was working"
Background
Mohammad was in Year 9 and had been identified by staff as needing emotional support. He was referred for weekly 1:1 sessions with a learning mentor, focusing on anxiety and emotional regulation. This ran for 10 weeks.
But when the sessions ended, staff were left asking a difficult question: Had it helped?
Like many schools, the intervention had been well-intended and carefully delivered — but there was no pre-intervention benchmark and no post-support review. Decisions were based on observation, not evidence.
What did the data reveal?
Mohammad completed a BounceTogether wellbeing survey before his support began, and again after the 10-week programme. The data told staff what they hadn’t expected to hear: there had been no meaningful shift in his emotional confidence, optimism, or resilience. Instead of closing his support file, the team re-evaluated. They introduced a new intervention with more structure and family involvement.
What changed?
Mohammad’s next post-support survey showed measurable improvements across three key indicators.  He felt safer, more positive, and more supported. The  data helped staff adjust provision, not just deliver it. Schools are investing time, money, and trust in mental health support. But if we don’t measure impact, we can’t improve it.

Ethan's Story

The one who didn't say a word
Ethan - an example pupil looking unhappy with a backpack on and orange/sand t-shirt.
Background
Ethan was a quiet, well-liked pupil in a KS2 class. He wasn’t disruptive. He didn’t act out. He hadn’t missed any school or raised concerns with staff. He took part in a scheduled BounceTogether wellbeing check using the Stirling Children's Wellbeing Scale
What flagged concern?
His answer to a single item:
"I have been feeling calm"
"Never"
This triggered an alert within the BounceTogether system. The DSL and class teacher were notified automatically. It stood out.
What did this uncover?
A member of staff sat down with Ethan the next day to check in. Gently, they asked if he wanted to talk about anything. That’s when he said it: “My dad died. I haven’t told anyone yet.” No one knew. Not his teacher. Not his friends. Not even the pastoral team.
What changed?
Ethan was offered 1:1 bereavement support, and his family was contacted with care. He now checks in weekly with a pastoral lead and is part of a small group focused on emotional literacy. BounceTogether created a space where he could speak safely and in his own way. Sometimes, the most significant insights come from the pupils who say the least.

Download these stories  to PDF

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"We've made sure that the hidden children are no longer hidden. Now we know who they are, and we're able to support them."
Anna Bateman
Director of Wellbeing and Family Services
Trusted by hundresds of schools

32% of pupils do not feel comfortable to come forward for help with their feelings and emotions

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CPOMS Ready!

How Bounce Alerts supports schools in 3 steps

1
Run your survey
Pick suitable evidence-based survey for your setting. Choose from a collection of over 65!
2
Alerts are generated
They are generated based on specific answers to questions or a set of results "on the whole"
3
Get notified instantly
You can receive email notifications or print a quick report to see a list. Or both!
Configure an Alert on any question or based on a set of results...
dynamic_form
Alert
me
when a pupil
is worried and has no one to talk with
bar_chart
Alert
Head of Year
when a pupil
is feeling significantly lower than usual
dynamic_form
Alert
the DSL
when a pupil
feels like things are escalating past their control
bar_chart
Alert
the Pastoral team
when a pupil
is having troubling thoughts

Add pupil voice into CPOMS safeguarding chronologies

Understand the story behind the behaviour by connecting pupil voice with safeguarding records to spot hidden concerns earlier.
An infographic conveying the concept of a notification raised from BounceAlerts going into CPOMS.
YOUR NEXT STEPS

Ensure no child's voice goes unheard

Move one step closer to implementing an efficient monitoring and tracking system that enables you to embed healthy wellbeing practices across your whole school and drive improvements.
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is an alert?
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    BounceAlerts is a powerful, early warning system designed to help schools identify and support pupils who may be struggling with their wellbeing, often before issues become visible to staff. By listening to pupil voice and analysing wellbeing data purposefully, schools can take proactive steps to offer timely support
  • Is Bounce Alerts suitable for primary and secondary schools?
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    Absolutely. Bounce Alerts is flexible, and can be tailored to suit the needs of both primary and secondary schools as well as multi-academy trusts (MATs). It's used across a wide range of settings to improve pupil outcomes and wellbeing.
  • What results have schools seen with Bounce Alerts?
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    Schools using BounceAlerts have shared stories of earlier identification of pupils at risk, improved wellbeing support and better engagement with families. Many leaders say it's transformed how they understand and respond to pupil needs! Read our case studies to find out more.
  • What kind of support do we get with Bounce Alerts?
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    Our team provides ongoing training, technical support and guidance to help staff get the most from Bounce Alerts. We're here to make sure the system delivers real impact from day one. Also gain access to our thriving online community of educators, where schools regularly share best practice, resources and practical ideas for embedding pupil voice and wellbeing into everyday school life. It's an ideal space to learn from others, stay inspired and grow your approach with support from like-minded professionals.
  • What's involved in completing a survey on BounceTogether?
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    Completing a survey on BounceTogether is quick, easy and pupil-friendly. Surveys are typically accessed online via a tablet, computer, or interactive whiteboard. Each survey is designed with age-appropriate language for schools and takes just a few minutes to complete. Pupils respond to simple questions using a range of formats such as multiple choice, emojis, or rating scales, depending on the topic and age group.  All responses are securely captured and automatically analysed immediately, giving staff instant access to clear, visual insights on individual, group or whole-school wellbeing.  No marking, no paperwork. Just the right balance of information to support the right interventions at the right time.
  • Can you email multiple parties when an Alert is raised?
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    Yes! You can set email notifications to send to staff in your school that you see fit.