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Blog

Building Brighter Futures: Supporting care-experienced young people in school and FE college transitions

Insights and Recommendations from the Well-being in Schools and Colleges Study (WiSC)

Our recent study in 2023/24 engaged with care-experienced children and young people, as well as staff in secondary schools and FE colleges across Wales. By care-experienced, we refer to those in foster care, residential care, living with friends or family (kinship care), or those who have been adopted. The study involved a review of survey responses collected in 2017/18 as part of The School Health Research Network (SHRN), to understand school mental health provision using The SHRN Student Health and Well-being (SHW) survey and The SHRN School Environment Questionnaire. We also included insights from carers and staff in mental health services and social care. Here’s a summary of their perspectives on well-being needs and support in schools and colleges.

Key findings

Learner Well-being Needs in Secondary Schools: The SHW survey revealed that care-experienced children and young people had poorer well-being compared to their peers, with those in residential care reporting the lowest levels of well-being. Our interviews identified critical periods of heightened need, such as during transitions from primary to secondary school, exam times, and the lead-up to school holidays.

Student Well-being Needs in FE Colleges: Transitioning to college brought additional well-being challenges, including making new friends; practical concerns about money and travel; choosing the right course, and losing school support. Once in college, students faced pressures to perform well academically and anxieties about moving towards independent living.

Support in Secondary Schools: Schools adopted a person-centred approach, focusing on individual learner needs. School environments often served as a support system, with learners highlighting favourite lessons and clubs. Friendships played a crucial role in their well-being. Nonetheless, there were notable gaps in support for adopted learners.

Support in FE colleges:  Support during the transition from school to college included careers advice and visits to colleges during quieter times. Post-transition, pastoral teams provided tailored support, particularly for students moving to independent living. However, support for adopted students remained limited.

WiSC Recommendations

For all organisations supporting care-experienced children and young people:
  • Ensure children, young people, and carers are central to understanding needs and to future changes and developments.
  • Strengthen partnerships between education, mental health, and social care.
  • Address the specific needs of adopted children and young people.
  • Support the mental health and well-being of school and college staff.
Schools:
  • Encourage good relationships between learners and staff.
  • Help build and maintain strong friendships among learners.
  • Provide support tailored to the individual needs of each child and young person.
Colleges:
  • Ensure a consistent adult is available to support young people during their transition to college, perhaps expanding the role of the Personal Advisor offering more comprehensive support from a single source.
  • Facilitate year-round collaboration between schools and colleges to aid transitions.
Read more about this study.
Please reach out to us directly by emailing WiSC@cardiff.ac.uk.
Please share this blog to raise awareness – let’s work together to create a brighter future for all care-experienced children and young people in Wales!

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News

2024 SHRN Primary School Survey: Collection Now Closed

Over the last four months, the SHRN survey has been rolled out to all primary schools in Wales.
We have been overwhelmed by the fantastic support of primary schools Wales, and the hard work they have put in to make sure we have heard from as many learners as possible. Over 600 schools took part.

I am delighted that so many primary schools took part in our 2024 survey, enabling SHRN to support public health improvement efforts across Wales by providing actionable data about learners’ health and wellbeing.

A key strength of SHRN data is that it provides evidence at national, regional, and local levels, enabling schools to identify the health and wellbeing needs of learners and target appropriate action.

SHRN is delivering real world impacts, and I very much look forward to the next phase of our work together when the findings from the Autumn 2024 survey will be released in Spring 2025.

Professor Simon Murphy, Professor in Social Interventions and Health, Director of DECIPHer and The School Health Research Network
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Case Study

Visual Insights – Infographics: Making SHRN Data Accessible and Engaging for Wider Audiences 

In this case study, Huw Eifion Evans, Healthy School Co-ordinator for Conwy, demonstrates how infographics can effectively communicate insights from SHRN data to a broader audience. By using these visual tools, key findings are shared with learners, staff, parents/carers, and school governors, fostering a deeper understanding of health and well-being  across the school community.

An Introduction to Using SHRN Data Infographics

The Conwy Team has created infographics to help secondary schools present data from The SHRN Student Health and Well-being Survey in a way that is both accessible and engaging for everyone in the school community.
By using infographics and slide decks (a collection of slides used to support a presentation, such as MS PowerPoint), complex data is transformed into visually appealing and easy-to-understand formats. This makes it simpler for a wider range of stakeholders to grasp key insights and identify trends in learners’ health and well-being.

Using SHRN Data: Detailed Insights into Learners’ Health and Well-being

The SHRN Student Health and Well-being survey offers a comprehensive overview of learner health and well-being, covering topics which include physical activity, sleep, social media, and substance use. Schools find their individualised reports to be highly informative, providing rich, detailed data that offers valuable insights.
Read more about the benefits to schools here.
Schools greatly appreciate the breadth and depth of their SHRN data. While school health and well-being teams initially focus on understanding the full scope of findings, they also recognise the opportunity to highlight key messages and present the data in ways that maximise SHRN impact across schools.

Making Communication Easier with Infographics and Slide Decks

SHRN infographics, paired with a slide deck (e.g., MS PowerPoint), help schools effectively communicate key data in assemblies, meetings, lessons, and throughout the school environment. This ensures that important insights are shared clearly and engagingly, making it easier for everyone to understand and act on what they see.

The Benefits of Using Infographics

Since the introduction of infographics in Conwy Secondary Schools, engagement with SHRN data has increased significantly.
The infographics and slide deck make data more approachable, sparking curiosity and conversation among staff and learners. This engagement promotes a whole-school understanding of learner health and well-being.
Additionally, the infographics have encouraged schools to continue participating in The SHRN Student Health and Well-being Survey, recognising the data’s value for school-wide health and well-being insights.

How We Created the Infographics

Guided by good design principles focusing on clarity, simplicity, and functionality, we aimed for a clean and accessible style. We used high-contrast fonts and a mix of charts, icons, and graphs to make the data easy to understand and visually appealing for everyone.
We chose pie charts and icons because they present statistics clearly and engagingly. Feedback from health and well-being school leads helped us refine the design to ensure it was relevant and easy to use. We also included each school’s logo and branding to make the data feel familiar and foster a sense of ownership.
There are many free and easy-to-use design tools available for creating infographics, such as:
  • Adobe Color: A tool for creating colour schemes.
  • Canva: An easy-to-use graphic design platform.
  • Flat Icon: A resource for free icons.
  • Google Slides: A presentation tool that can be used for designing infographics.

(Please note – we wish to clarify that references to these products are not endorsements. Instead, we am sharing items that we have personally utilised and have proven to be effective. Our objective is to provide authentic insights based on our own experiences)

How Schools  use Infographics  

Conwy’s secondary schools have used the infographics creatively in a different ways:
  • Informing the New Curriculum in Wales: Development and lesson plans.
  • Embedding SHRN Data: Into the Whole-School Approach to Mental Health and Well-being framework.
  • Supporting Learners’ Councils: Providing valuable data for discussions and initiatives.
  • Displaying Around the School: In key areas such as staff rooms, noticeboards, and walkways.
  • Presentations: For school governors and during learner assemblies.
  • Sharing with Parents/Carers: Through social media and newsletters.

Key considerations to remember when using infographics  

Depth of Engagement: Schools should not rely solely on infographics but should explore the full data set for a complete understanding of their health and well-being landscape. Using infographics as an entry point to SHRN data helps the whole school community recognise their importance while encouraging further exploration of the complete data set.
Co-production with Learners: Involving learners in the creation of infographics  can empower them to take ownership of the information being shared. Active participation helps learners understand health and well-being topics better, encouraging them to think critically about the data. It also makes sure the infographic is relevant and connects with other learners.

Conclusion 

Using infographics has greatly increased interest and understanding of SHRN data across the school community. This project shows how effective visual learning tools can be in getting everyone involved.
Going forward, Conwy will use infographics more to help teachers and learners use data in interesting ways. They are also exploring new digital tools to improve learning; teamwork; critical thinking, and creativity. Such tools make information easier to access and more useful for everyone in the school and beyond. 
Read a SHRN blog written by Huw Eifion Evans, Infographics: Making Data Accessible and Engaging for Wider Audiences.

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News

Launch of The SHRN School Environment Questionnaire (SEQ) in Secondary Schools 2023 Report

We are thrilled to announce the launch of The SHRN School Environment Questionnaire (SEQ) 2023 Report. This report offers valuable insights into how school policies—such as leadership, ethos, and community engagement—affect student health and well-being.
The SEQ not only assesses learner health well-being but also informs policy development at national and local levels, promoting a Whole-school Approach to emotional and mental health whilst also servings as a monitoring tool for the Welsh Network of Health and Well-being Promoting Schools (WNHWPS), guiding schools in implementing and evaluating their health initiatives. Further, by  identifying areas for improvement and fostering collaboration, the SEQ helps schools reflect on their practices and share innovative strategies.

The SHRN SEQ 2023 Report

Read now
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Blog

Infographics: Making SHRN Data Accessible and Engaging for Wider Audiences

In today’s information-rich world, infographics are a powerful tool for transforming complex data into engaging visuals that resonate with diverse audiences, making data more accessible. In this blog, Huw Eifion Evans, Healthy School Co-ordinator for Conwy, shares his Top Ten Tips for using infographics to bring insights from The School Health Research Network (SHRN) data to life.
Whether you’re aiming to communicate key findings with learners, staff, parents/carers or school governors, these tips can help ensure your SHRN data is both impactful and easy to understand.

Engage & Inform: 10 Tips for Dynamic SHRN Infographics  

1. Less But Better

Define a clear objective for your infographic and limit your content to this focus. While it’s tempting to add more colours, text, and details, too much information can clutter the design and obscure your core message.

2. Create a Clear and Consistent Layout

Organise information logically, dividing data into sections to avoid overwhelming viewers. A grid or column-based structure can keep the design easy to navigate.

3. Embrace Visual Hierarchy

Use contrasting fonts, colours, and sizes to draw attention to the most important parts of the infographic. Bold percentages, icons, or highlighted figures help emphasise key findings.

4. Select the Relevant Data

Choose data points that will resonate with your audience. For example, if you’re addressing mental health outcomes, highlight key statistics that align with this topic. 
5. Prioritise Accessible Colours and Fonts
Ensure your infographic is inclusive by selecting readable fonts and high-contrast colours. This improves accessibility for individuals with visual impairments and makes the design appealing for all viewers. Aim for a font size that is easily readable, even on smaller screens.
6. Use Icons and Images Effectively
Incorporate icons, illustrations, or simple graphics to represent data categories. Visuals can make content more relatable and memorable, especially for younger audiences who may prefer visuals over text-heavy information. For example, using a heart icon for health-related data makes the information more relatable.
7. Be Concise with Text
Limit text to short descriptions or phrases to keep the focus on visuals. Use bullet points or short phrases instead of long paragraphs. This keeps the focus on visuals and makes the information easier to digest. Aim for clarity in your descriptions. Use active voice and engaging language to maintain interest. Phrasing like “Discover how…” or “Learn why…” can draw your readers in. 
8. Experiment with Graphs and Charts
Consider different chart styles – bar charts, pie charts, or graphs – based on the data type. Testing various formats will best convey your data’s story.

9.  Include a Clear Call to Action

Guide viewers on what they can do with the information. Whether it’s joining a discussion, supporting a school initiative, or reflecting on the findings, a call to action can make your data more actionable.

10. Invite Feedback and Encourage Sharing

Invite your audience to engage with and share the infographic, welcoming their feedback. This can lead to fresh insights and strengthen their connection to the data and school goals. Promote SHRN data sharing by including social media buttons or QR codes that make it easy for viewers to share the infographic with their networks. Encouraging sharing can amplify your reach and impact.

Infographic Creation Made Easy: Useful Tools and Resources

Adobe Colour
Canva
Flat Icon
QR Monkey
(Please note – I wish to clarify that my references to these products are not endorsements. Instead, I am sharing items that I have personally utilised and have proven to be effective. My objective is to provide authentic insights based on my own experiences)

Final Thoughts

By following these tips, SHRN data can be further transformed into valuable insights that support health and well-being across school communities and wider audiences. Infographics are more than just visual representations of SHRN data; they are powerful storytelling tools that can bridge the gap between complex information and public understanding. As you embark on your infographic creation journey, remember to keep your audience at the forefront of your design decisions.
Have you created infographics for your SHRN data? Do they make a difference in how learners and the wider school community engage with the data? We would love to find out more!
Share your experiences by emailing SHRN Engagement Manager, Charlotte Wooders.

Categories
Blog

Double the Insight, Double the Impact: The SHRN Student Health and Well-Being Survey and The SHRN School Environment Questionnaire (SEQ)

We are delighted to report that over half of our SHRN registered primary schools have completed The School Environment Questionnaire (SEQ). This achievement reflects your commitment to enhancing the health and well-being of your learners.

By completing both The SHRN Student Health and Well-Being Survey and the SEQ, primary schools not only enhance their internal practices,  but also contribute to a broader understanding of health and well-being in education. This dual approach fosters a healthier, more supportive environment for all learners.

Thank you to all the schools for your participation and dedication to creating a positive learning environment. Together, we are making a difference!

For registered primary schools that have not yet completed both the SEQ and The SHRN Student Health and Well-Being Survey, here’s a reminder of some key benefits of you doing so:

1.  A Comprehensive Understanding of Learner Needs

  • Holistic Insights: By gathering data from both surveys, your school can gain a well-rounded view of your learners’ health, well-being, and the overall school environment. This helps you  identify specific areas that need attention.

The SHRN team is also able to anonymously analyse the relationship between school policies/practices and learner outcomes and share what we learn on potentially effective approaches with schools to develop knowledge exchange events such as our webinar series.

2. Informed Decision-Making

  • Data-Driven Policies: The insights gained from these surveys enables your school to make informed decisions regarding health and well-being initiatives, ensuring that policies are tailored to the actual needs of your learners.

3. Enhanced Learner Engagement

  • Empowerment: Involving learners in the survey process can empower them, making them feel valued and heard, leading to increased engagement in your school activities and initiatives.

4. Improved Health Outcomes

  • Targeted Interventions: The data can help  your school implement targeted health and well-being programmes that address specific issues, such as mental health, nutrition, and physical activity- ultimately improving learners and well-being.

5. Benchmarking and Comparison

  • National Standards: You can compare your school’s results with national data, allowing you to benchmark your performance and identify best practices from other schools.

6. Support for Inspections and Accountability

Evidence for Estyn Inspections: Completing both surveys provides valuable evidence for your school inspection, demonstrating a commitment to learner health and well-being. Further, the SNRN and Public Health Wales partnership enables your  SHRN data  to be embedded as part a health promoting school.

7. Long-Term Planning and Development

  • Sustainable Practices: The data collected can inform long-term strategies for improving your school’s  policies and practices, ensuring that health and well-being remain a priority in your school development plans.

In summary, registered primary schools that complete both The SHRN Student Health and Well-Being Survey and the SEQ can unlock a range of benefits that enhance their educational environment and support their learner’s development.

Read more about The School Environment Questionnaire (SEQ). 

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Blog

Double the Insight, Double the Impact: The SHRN Student Health and Well-Being Survey and The SHRN School Environment Questionnaire (SEQ)

In today’s educational landscape, the health and well-being of learners is more crucial than ever. Maria Boffey, SHRN Knowledge Exchange and External Affairs Manager , emphasises how completing both The SHRN Student Health and Well-Being Survey and The SHRN School Environment Questionnaire (SEQ), gives schools invaluable insights that not only enhance their internal practices, but also contributes to a broader understanding of health and well-being across Wales.  In this blog, Maria explores the significant benefits of the SHRN surveys for schools and how they can transform the educational environment for the better.

Unlocking Insights for Health and Well-Being

By participating in both The SHRN Student Health and Well-Being Survey and the SEQ, primary schools not only improve their internal practices but also contributes to a broader understanding of health and well-being in education. This dual approach fosters a healthier, more supportive environment for all learners.

The key benefits for schools taking part in SHRN surveys are:

1.  A Comprehensive Understanding of Learner Needs

  • Holistic Insights: By gathering data from both surveys, your school can gain a well-rounded view of your learners’ health, well-being, and the overall school environment. This helps you  identify specific areas that need attention.

Additionally, the SHRN team is also able to anonymously analyse the relationship between school policies/practices and learner outcomes and share what we learn on potentially effective approaches with schools to develop knowledge exchange events such as our webinar series.

2. Informed Decision-Making

  • Data-Driven Policies: The insights gained from these surveys enables your school to make informed decisions regarding health and well-being initiatives, ensuring that policies are tailored to the actual needs of your learners.

3. Enhanced Learner Engagement

  • Empowerment: Involving learners in the survey process can empower them, making them feel valued and heard, leading to increased engagement in your school activities and initiatives.

4. Improved Health Outcomes

  • Targeted Interventions: SHRN data can help  your school implement targeted health and well-being programmes that address specific issues, such as mental health, nutrition, and physical activity- ultimately improving learners and well-being.

5. Benchmarking and Comparison

  • National Standards: You can compare your school’s results with national data, allowing you to benchmark your performance and identify best practices from other schools.

6. Support for Inspections and Accountability

Evidence for Estyn Inspections: Completing both surveys provides valuable evidence for your school inspection, demonstrating a commitment to learner health and well-being. Further, the SNRN and Public Health Wales partnership enables your  SHRN data  to be embedded as part a health promoting school.

7. Long-Term Planning and Development

  • Sustainable Practices: The data collected can inform long-term strategies for improving your school’s  policies and practices, ensuring that health and well-being remain a priority in your school development plans.

In summary, registered primary schools that complete both The SHRN Student Health and Well-Being Survey and the SEQ can unlock a range of benefits that enhance their educational environment and support their learner’s development.

Read more about The School Environment Questionnaire (SEQ) and join us in making a positive impact on health and well-being in education!

Join the Discussion!

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your insights, experiences, or innovative practices related to health and well-being initiatives in schools. Whether it’s a success story, a unique approach, or challenges you’ve faced, your contribution can inspire others and foster a collaborative community.

If you’re interested in writing a guest post, please email Maria Boffey. Together, let’s create a dialogue that promotes healthier, happier learning environments for all learners!

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Press Release

Physical activity up among secondary school pupils, but data also reveals increase in bullying

Physical activity among secondary school pupils in Wales has increased, reversing a decline that started in 2017.  It is now comparable to pre-pandemic levels, according to new data on pupils in Wales from the results of the Schools Health Research Network (SHRN) health and well-being survey released today.

The Wales-focused SHRN survey is one of the biggest surveys of school pupils in the UK. Every two years it asks questions on a range of topics including mental well-being, substance use and school life. The latest survey was completed by nearly 130,000 learners in years 7 to 11, within 200 maintained secondary schools across Wales. 

SHRN is a collaboration between Public Health Wales, Cardiff University and Welsh Government. The results are included as part of a new update to the Secondary School Children’s Health and Well-being Dashboard, an easy-to-use tool which enables users like schools, government and local authorities to look at figures from SHRN surveys over time. The dashboard allows users to explore the data by different regions, ages, gender and family affluence, providing an opportunity to identify trends for adolescents in Wales.  

Nearly a quarter of boys (23 per cent) met the Chief Medical Officers’ national guideline of at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, an increase from 21 per cent in 2019 and 2021.  Among girls, 14 per cent met the current guidelines, which although low, has improved from 12 per cent in 2021. 

The survey also looked at young people’s experiences of bullying.  Almost 38 per cent of young people said that they had been bullied in the previous couple of months, up from 32 percent in 2021. Results are higher than ever previously reported in the survey with more than 40 per cent of girls being bullied compared to over 30 per cent of boys. 

Other findings: 

The figures also revealed a significant difference between the oldest and youngest pupils, as almost one in four 11 year olds (23 per cent) met physical activity guidelines compared to less than one in eight 16 year olds (13 per cent).  Particular attention therefore needs to be given to encouraging more physical activity among young people (especially girls) as they progress through their teenage years. 

Results for students exercising outside of school, also increased. However, there was a significant difference in results by family affluence; almost half (45 per cent) of children from more well-off families exercised vigorously outside of school four times a week compared to just a third of children (32 per cent) from poorer families.  

There has been a decrease in the number of young people who can count on their friends for support when things go wrong.  Just 60 per cent of young people in the survey said that they were able to count on their friends, a year on year decrease from 67 per cent in 2017. This trend is particularly apparent in the older age groups, and among boys.  

Lorna Bennett, Consultant in Health Improvement for Public Health Wales said:

“It is really encouraging to see the increase across the board in physical activity in secondary school aged young people.  We know that physical activity has significant benefits for both physical and mental health, so it’s great to see that young people are reversing the decline that we’ve seen since 2017.  The data show that young people are more active both in and outside school, which is pleasing to see. 

“However, although the increase in physical activity and exercise rates is welcome, it is clear that the number of young people meeting the guidelines for physical activity remains low, and it is important that we continue working to ensure that physical activity becomes part of the lives of more young people in Wales.   

“Public Health Wales are working with national partners, including Welsh Government, Sport Wales, and Natural Resources Wales, to develop the Daily Active Whole School Approach to Physical Activity. This aims to improve opportunities for physical activity in and around the school day, with a focus on areas such as active lessons, developing PE and active travel.  

“In addition, it is concerning to see a deprivation gap between the most and least affluent areas, and we would hope to see this narrowed in future surveys.” 

“It is alarming that the rates of bullying are increasing in all groups and both in face-to-face bullying and in cyberbullying.  It’s clear that a significant group of young people are having to deal with being bullied, which we know can have impacts on mental health. Public Health Wales is working with schools in Wales to embed the Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Well-being, which is designed to help schools support the mental health and well-being of children and young people, including preventing and tackling bullying”.  

CASE STUDY 

Using SHRN data, Willows High School in Cardiff identified an opportunity to increase physical activity among their students and implemented an ongoing programme of fortnightly enrichment for the whole school.  By working with local partners, businesses, and the student body, the school now offers more than 50 different activities across a huge range of areas and has seen an increase in school attendance, greater uptake of physical activity and improved physical activity skills among pupils. 

Chris Norman, Headteacher from Willows High said: “By developing the enrichment programme we have given our learners an opportunity to become less sedentary and lead a more active lifestyle.  The range of activities that we offer has given them a chance to try a variety of different ways of exercising and incorporating physical activity into their daily lives, and this has established new passions and interests as well as having physical and mental health benefits. 

“We have provided sessions such as rock climbing, MMA and self-defence, circus skills, swimming, military training and cycling, among many other types of activities.  The enrichment sessions are also enjoyed by staff, who have found that they have built better relationships with learners which has made a positive difference throughout the school.” 

Dr Kelly Morgan, deputy director of SHRN at Cardiff University, who oversees data collection, said: “SHRN is now in its 11th year and involves every secondary school in Wales, asking questions on a wide range of areas that matter to young people. Our aim is to provide robust and widespread data so that decision-makers in the health and education sector have the tools to develop tangible and long-lasting solutions. We are grateful to all the schools and students who have participated.” 

Zoe Strawbridge, analyst at Public Health Wales said: “Working in collaboration with SHRN and Welsh Government has provided a great opportunity to develop an interactive dashboard, giving us a detailed insight into regional differences in health and wellbeing of young people in Wales. We look forward to developing this tool and sharing the results on further topics over the coming year.” 

The dashboard can be accessed here:

School Health Research Network (SHRN) Data Dashboard

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Blog

 Data Anonymity and The SHRN Student Health and Well-being Survey in Primary Schools

Why should primary schools register to take part in SHRN’s 2024 data collection?

SHRN has become a unique and invaluable part of the education health and well-being infrastructure in Wales. Our strategic partnership with Public Health Wales and integration with The Welsh Network of Health and Well-being Promoting Schools (WNHWPS), along with substantive and ongoing investment from Welsh Government, has enabled SHRN to grow into a national network of research and evaluation.

SHRN is cited in over thirty Welsh Government policies and strategies as providing support for the delivery and evaluation of health and well-being policy agendas and interventions. These include the Whole-School Approach to Emotional and Mental Well-being (2021) and Estyn’s Healthy and Happy Report (2019).

To find out more about the huge benefits of joining SHRN, read our primary school and school success and impact brochures.

Is The SHRN Student Health and Well-being Survey anonymous?

Yes. The Student Health and Well-being survey collects indirect identifies such gender, school year group (as a proxy for learner age), and ethnicity. It would be extremely difficult to use this data to discover the identity of a survey participant from the thousands of children and young people who take part.

Further, all data fed back to schools is done so in an aggregate form through year group and gender breakdown (e.g., the percentage of year 7 learners who eat breakfast every weekday). This prevents deductive disclosure as a set number of learners must provide a response to enable the data to be shared.

Why is SHRN anonymised data so important?

When exploring the health and well-being needs of your school, it is important to take the time to consider the needs of your whole-school community. This approach ensures that both policy and practice supports and nurtures learners, staff, and the wider school community. It will also help to build social capital across the school.

Anonymised SHRN survey data protects privacy, whilst empowering schools to enhance their learner’s health and well-being.

SHRN and its anonymised data, has become a unique and invaluable part of the education health and well-being infrastructure in Wales.

What are the benefits of SHRN anonymised data?

There are many benefits including…

SHRN data can be retained each year and have continuing value for research purposes.

An example of this would be using the data to help understand change over time in children’s and young peoples’ health and well-being through combining with previous and subsequent anonymised SHRN survey data. By analysing trends and patterns, schools can identify areas of concern, tailor support accordingly and evaluate their progress.

SHRN Survey findings can be benchmarked against national findings to provide a wider context and comparison for school-level findings.

Our data plays a key role in national, regional, and local planning, as well as influencing UK-wide and international research and policies.

SHRN School Level data can be shared with teaching staff; learners; school governors; parents and carers; Public Health Wales and Estyn to ensure that everyone can be involved in the discussions about children’s and young peoples’ health and well-being.

It helps to develop a school culture of intervention and change. It also represents an important means by which learners can influence the vision and delivery of services and practice which affect their health, well-being, attainment and future life chances.

It helps to develop a school culture of intervention and change.

Used in conjunction with The School Environment Questionnaire (SEQ), the survey data provides useful evidence for identifying need and setting health and well-being priorities to support school improvement. The SEQ allows relationships between school policies (e.g. school leadership; school ethos; environment; curriculum learning; family and community engagement) and practices and student health outcomes to be investigated. It provides schools with a unique opportunity to assess the health and well-being of learners in the context of their school policies and practices. It also covers a range of emotional and physical health topics to reflect a Whole-School Approach to Health and Well-being and the Curriculum for Wales.

SHRN data anonymity helps schools to evaluate objectively, offering a framework for universal application.

Other non- anonymised surveys select and measure specific well-being measures such as positive emotion whilst at the same time identifying learners. Quantifying such subjective experiences can be challenging, making it difficult to select appropriate response scales and assess whole-school progress accurately. Additionally, the lack of anonymity can sometimes lead to learners avoiding giving honest survey answers or taking part in data collection.

Anonymisation limits data protection risks and enables information to be made available to other organisations, or wider health and education communities across

In general, it is easier to disclose anonymous information rather than personal data as fewer legal restrictions apply. It is also easier to use anonymous information in new and different ways, as the data protection rules do not apply to properly anonymised data. Results from the data can be shared widely in reports to Government, and be published in scientific journals. It can also be used to support programmes of work in school clusters.

Finally… any messages to the primary schools who are thinking about registering to take in the 2024 SHRN data collection?

Registration for the SHRN 2024 data collection in primary schools closes on 19 July 2024, so I would urge those who haven’t yet registered to sign up quickly so that they do not miss out on the unique benefits that SHRN has to offer.

To find out more visit shrn.org.uk