So what is school wellbeing?
Wellbeing is not a unitary concept. It is made up of different, interrelated elements including:
- Individual wellbeing;
- Social wellbeing; and
- Academic wellbeing.
Mental, physical and emotional wellbeing are umbrella terms that work across these areas in complex ways.
Similarly, education is always more than the sum of its parts – based on complex and subtle interrelationships between the different elements. The unseen curriculum is as fundamental to learning as the explicit curriculum – and this includes the extent to which each student has a sense of being part of their community. This sense of belonging is enormously powerful in shaping each student’s identity, and through it, their wellbeing.Helping students learn to be part of a microcosm of society – and feel a part of their community – is critical. This is reinforced by John White’s work at the University of London regarding the interplay between wellbeing, education and culture.
In its broadest sense therefore, wellbeing in education can be understood in terms of helping develop students into effective contributors to society – in the place where they are now (school), and in the places they are going to next (school, higher education and the wider world).
At the same time schools can often be the safest place in the lives of some students. This means that many teachers are confronted with a range of complex mental health challenges every day. Teachers’ ability to respond to these challenges varies significantly – by training, personality, resources and approach. Having clarity about the reasonable role of educators in this space is important in helping provide the right support at the right time.