By joining the Well Schools movement, schools commit to prioritising wellbeing alongside academic achievement. Participants reflect on best practice, access a growing bank of resources, and demonstrate their commitment to a whole-school approach through the free-to-access Well Check and forthcoming Well Schools Accreditation, launching October 2025.
What is a Well School?
A Well School still has high expectations, but places just as much emphasis on health and wellbeing as it does on academic performance. It understands that children and young people are more effective learners when they are happy and healthy, and that staff are better educators when they are genuinely supported.
Benefits of being a Well School:
- Increases in progress and attainment
- Improvements in physical and mental health
- Increased attendance
- Higher self-efficacy
- Increased executive function
- Improved behaviour
- Reduced exclusions
- Improved job satisfaction
- Increased staff retention
How it works
1. Complete a free Well Check
Use our free-to-access self-review tool and get a tailored development plan to help you on your journey to becoming a Well School.
2. Utilise the recommendations to improve
Access our giant bank of resources and support to help you target specific areas of your approach and make a real difference.
3. Become an accredited Well School
From October 2025, you will be able to demonstrate your successes and turn your Well Check into an official accreditation.
Evidence of impact
A Well School journey takes time and takes planning. Evidence shows that advocating staff wellbeing, staff recognition and allowing staff to have autonomy over staff wellbeing in their schools can lead to positive outcomes.
It also shows that pupils are who are happier and healthier has had a positive impact on pupils’ engagement with learning and academic performance.
Here you will find the summary reports, school profiles and case studies from the Well Schools research conducted by the University of Manchester and case studies from Trusts where they have improved education outcomes through a Well School approach.
Well School Collective
We have a diverse range of senior leaders in education, who have lived experiences of improving schools by supporting happy, healthy children and staff. We also work with a range of partners that have amazing support and resources that can help you address the challenges you have to creating a healthy, happy school. We are delighted to work with such an inspirational group of people as part of our Well School Collective.
- Ben Levinson OBE, Executive Head Teacher, Kensington Primary School
- Adrian Bethune, Teachappy & teacher, Broughton Junior School
- Farhan Adam, Principal, Crown Hills Community & Sports College
- Dave McPartlin, Head Teacher, Flakefleet Primary School
- Kafilat Agboola, Director of Professional Learning, Haberdashers Academy South Trust
- Chris Dyson, Deputy CEO, Create Partnership Trust
- Jeremy Hannay, Head Teacher, Three Bridges Primary School
- Vincent Brittain, Chief Executive, Inspire+
- Rae Snape, Head Teacher, Milton Road Primary School
- Matthew Carpenter, Principal, Baxter College
- Sue Watmough, Head Teacher, Manchester Communication Academy
- Dan Keefe and Kev Byrne, Deputy Head Teacher, Clare Mount Sports College
- Peter Hunt, Head Teacher, Oasis Academy Blakenhale
Our Partners
Start your Well Check today
Log in or register for a free Youth Sport Trust account and create your Well Schools development plan.
Register