Rethinking Education: From School to Life Outcomes - Bounce Forward

Rethinking Education: From School to Life Outcomes

Bounce Forward hosted a webinar on the 20th October 2021 that focused on the intersection between health education and short and long term life outcomes. 

Click above to listen to the panel discussion.

Concerns about the mental wellbeing of children and young people continue to rise. 26% of 16-25 year olds surveyed in the UK felt they were “unable to cope with life” since the start of the pandemic.  Fifty percent said their mental health worsened since the start of the pandemic and over 50% said they always or often felt anxious.[1]  The Mental Health of Children and Young People (MHCYP) survey found that in 2020 one in six children aged 5-16 had a probable mental health disorder, up from one in nine in 2017.[2] The data collected in 2017 on the support children with a disorder received over the previous year shows that only a quarter of children had contact with a mental health specialist, and one quarter had no support at all – not even informally from family and friends.[3] The consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling, healthy lives as adults.[4]

Schools and teachers are well positioned to provide health promotion and primary prevention services for children and young people.  In a longitudinal study of 36,000 children, feeling connected to their school was found to be the strongest protective factor for decreasing substance use, violence, early sexual initiation and risk of injury, and was second only to feeling connected to their family in protecting against emotional distress, disordered eating, and suicide.[5] Teachers act as primary care professionals: they are the most contacted professional service regarding mental health issues in 5-19-year olds.[6] Research shows that teachers are concerned about the mental health of their students and want training to support their wellbeing.[7]

Furthermore, there is strong evidence that health education lessons taught in schools equip children with skills that lead to long term health and wellbeing benefits into adulthood.[8] [9]   Indeed, a recent literature review found that universal school health education can improve physical health, mental health, sexual health, fitness, diet, pro-social behaviour, and reduce smoking, while improving academic attainment.[10]

Panel Line Up

 

  • Nancy Hey, Executive Director, What Works for Wellbeing

    Nancy Hey is a global leader in the field of wellbeing.  In 2014 she set up the What Works Centre for Wellbeing, the UK’s national body for wellbeing evidence and practice aiming to understand what governments, business, communities and people can do to improve wellbeing. The Centre is the first of its kind in the world and is working with the OECD, over 18 universities across the UK and in partnership with HM Government, Business and Civil Society.

    She holds a wide range of advisory roles past and present and prior to setting up the Centre, she worked in the UK Civil Service as a policy professional and coach, delivering cross Government policies including on Constitutional Reform.  She has worked with the UK’s top Civil Servants to introduce wellbeing into public policy and to establish the professional policy community in the UK. She has degrees in Law and in Coaching & Development, and is a passionate advocate for learning.

    She has two young daughters and a devotion to Southampton FC.

    @Work_Life_You

    @WhatWorksWB

    LinkedIn

  • Chloe Lowry, University College London

    Chloe Lowry is a former teacher and the lead author of the upcoming Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine series exploring the nexus between health and education, which brings together stakeholders from both sectors to promote a healthier education system. As a secondary school teacher, she taught PSHE education and delivered a mental health and wellbeing project to improve students’ access to mental health resources. Having previously undertaken a BA in Philosophy and Theology at Oxford University, she is currently studying for an MSc in Child Development at UCL.

  • Stuart Lindars, Vice Principle, The Leigh Academy

    Stuart has over 20 years experience in education. He currently leads on strategic development of his college of 380 students, ensuring they succeed in an academic and pastoral capacity. He is responsible for developing the curriculum, mentoring and coaching of NQTs, and line management of a variety of key teaching and support staff.

    Stuart is passionate about young people, and has deep experience of teaching and learning of social and emotional skills. In 2013 he joined a small group who pioneered the Healthy Minds programme and is one of the most qualified teaching professionals in the country – having completed 19 days of professional development over five years. He is committed to driving a change in education and has contributed to think tanks led by the Department of Education, the London School of Economics, the Education Endowment Foundation and Public Health England.

    Outside of his professional role he has three daughters and enjoys travelling and sport. He has personally goals including the Three Peaks Challenge and running a marathon.

     

  • Professor Neil Humphrey, Associate Dean, University of Manchester

    Neil Humphrey is the Sarah Fielden Chair of Psychology of Education at the Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, UK. His research interests include children’s mental health, social and emotional learning, and special educational needs. Neil is currently the academic lead for #BeeWell, a new programme that combines academic expertise with youth-led change to make the wellbeing of young people everybody’s business. When he is not working at the University, Neil moonlights as an unpaid taxi driver for his three daughters.

    Prof. Neil Humphrey

    Sarah Fielden Chair: Psychology of Education

    Associate Dean: Research (Faculty of Humanities)
    University of Manchester

     

  • Dr Minesh Patel, GP Partner at Moatfield Surgery

    Minesh qualified in 1991 in London and entered general practice in 1996. He is the senior GP Partner at Moatfield Surgery in East Grinstead. Until September this year he chaired the National Association of Primary Care whose mission is to improve population health by supporting health and care systems to develop effective approaches to this end. He previously chaired Horsham and Mid-Sussex CCG for 6 years and led the strategic service development of Stroke Services in Sussex and chaired the Sussex Sustainability Transformation Partnership (STP) Clinical Board. Minesh led the development of the Healthy East Grinstead Partnership Primary Care Home which was one of the first fifteen Primary Care Networks in England.

    NAPC https://napc.co.uk

  • Natalie Williams, Mental Health in Education Manager, Oldham Council

    Natalie qualified from Manchester Metropolitan University and has over 16 years teaching experience at secondary level and Director of Sport for 8 years. Natalie left her teaching role to join Oldham Council. She is passionate about enabling children and young people through education. She has led many projects based around embedding a whole school and college approach to emotional health and mental wellbeing. Natalie has been instrumental in raising standards and improving outcomes for children and young people through the Oldham Opportunity Area initiative. Her work has delivered significant changes to the way schools consider wellbeing as part of school planning and improvement and the professional development of teacher. The work is highlighted in national and regional reports that is helping to shape and inform activity across the country.

  • Lucy Bailey, CEO & Founder, Bounce Forward

    Lucy Bailey is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Bounce Forward. She is proud of her beginnings as a youth worker and her 17 years of experience of working in, developing, reforming and managing children’s services. Over the last twelve years Lucy has focused on education and has been instrumental in embedding resilience curricular in schools and services across the UK. Her passion is to drive a movement to influence UK policy around education to form a positive system of change. Lucy directed the Healthy Minds research project, has an MSc in Practice Based Research, a BSc in Social Policy and Criminology, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education.

    Outside of her professional role Lucy loves nothing better than spending time with her family and friends. She is dedicated follower of Chelsea FC, a passion that started long before the glory years!

Click & read our paper Health Education: A Primary Prevention Solution!

 

Bounce Forward continues on its mission to see resilience and healthy minds taught professionally as part of core education.

Healthy Minds 
Healthy Minds delivers a five year scheme of sixty-four lessons covering emotional resilience, mental health, social media, mindfulness, career hope and human connection. The scheme is designed in a way that means schools can adapt it in a way that suits them best.

Click here for more information

 

Raise Resilience
The way parents build resilience matters too. Raise Resilience is designed as six 1-hour sessions for parents to explore and build resilience. Parents receive valuable learning materials for their children that will help and support children to deal with life beyond the pandemic.

Click here for more information

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