Jasmine Wing convened a round table of East London teachers to consider the proposal for a Head of Wellbeing in every school.
A much cited report from 2020health and Nuffield Health concluded with a call for every secondary school in the UK to appoint a dedicated Head of Wellbeing.
Given current levels of concern about the health and wellbeing of young people in particular, this sounds like a good idea. But is it? Many schools already have someone in post to do this job (or something very similar). Also, it’s doubtful whether a new job title on the school letterhead will make any real difference to the health and wellbeing of its pupils.
Rising East invited three educationalists to comment on this contentious proposal and its likely consequences:
- Farris Costin, science teacher from Sydney Russell School in Dagenham.
- Grace Jimah, English teacher from Langdon Academy in East Ham and mother of two.
- Lionel McNeil, teaching assistant at Eleanor Smith School in Plaistow.
Q: It has been suggested that every school should appoint a Head of Wellbeing to combat poor physical and mental health among students. Do you think this will help significantly?
Farris Costin: It does sound like a role that has its benefits. However, many schools, including the one I am employed in, are already fulfilling this role. From P.E. teachers to form tutors to counsellors, these are just some of the members of staff employed by the school to deal with the issues raised in the report.
Grace Jimah: I think it is long overdue. The school system currently is too focused on results and grades, and that is detrimental to the health of students and staff. Yes, I think someone needs to be appointed to keep the schools in check.
Lionel McNeil: There is a need for the system to support mental health and counselling in schools. However I think teachers are more than cable of organising wellbeing within themselves.
Q: A further suggestion is for the Head of Wellbeing to look after the welfare of teaching staff as well as students. Is this necessary?
Grace: It is the responsibility of the employer to cater to the wellbeing of staff. However the fulfilment of this responsibility varies depending on the priorities of the head teacher.
Lionel: I feel that staff are more than capable of handling their own wellbeing.
Farris: The welfare of teaching staff is an area of employment already dealt with by other individuals. It is not a role fit for one person.
Q: Recent statistics indicate that 21 percent of boys and only 15 percent of girls are reaching the minimum target of 60 minutes of physical activity each day. How do you respond to this?
Farris: Apart from P.E. lessons which are compulsory for students, schools are forever trying to promote the idea of an active lifestyle through sporting events, sports teams and charity games.
Lionel: Increased use of technology has reduced physical activity among children, and endorses laziness and mental slouching as well.
Grace: I am not surprised. Young people are spending most of their time on the computer or on their phone instead of actually going out.
Do you think a system is needed for mental health support and counselling in schools?
Farris: There are already multiple systems put in place to deal with mental health. Schools already incorporate different strategies to deal with the issues, from mentoring to educational psychologists to parental meetings.
Lionel: Yes I do, although I believe it would have to be thoroughly planned out before being implemented.
Q: The Head of Wellbeing would purportedly play a vital role in spotting mental illness, and it has been further said that 75 percent of mental illness among the young, currently remains undiagnosed. On the basis of your experience in schools, do you think this is a credible statistic?
Grace: In my experience schools do tend to pick up on students’ specific needs but how much those needs are being met is another matter – this is where I believe the well-being officer could be beneficial.
Lionel: The statistics are a reasonable estimate. However I wouldn’t be quick to say a student is mentally ill – I don’t believe every diagnosis.
Farris: Schools are becoming more heavily involved in such issues and liaising with other agencies and support workers to ensure these issues are being dealt with in a productive manner.
Q: Do you believe that social media and screen time are largely responsible for the number of inactive children in today’s society?
Lionel: I strongly believe so.
Farris: The introduction of new media platforms such as game consoles have provided a more glamorous idea of free time.
Grace: We are living in a society where technology is the be all and end all.
Q: The Head of Wellbeing would also be responsible for engagement with hard-to-reach parents. Do you think this is feasible?
Farris: If staff working closely with a child cannot get hold of a parent, then what luck would a Head of Wellbeing have?
Grace: It is feasible – it’s certainly worth a try.
Q: The role would include assisting children with healthy eating? Do you think this could be made to work?
Farris: Schools are already tackling and promoting healthy eating – continually.
Grace: I think it a great idea. However the minute school is out, they all go straight to the chicken shop!
Our three-person jury is still out. There is clearly some support for this proposal among local educationalists, but also some reluctance to accept yet another initiative that isn’t directly concerned with the learning and teaching of academic subjects.
Jasmine Wing is Rising East’s Health and Wellbeing Editor.