Transforming school mental health: The Whole School and College Approach

Summary

We led research and resource development to support the Whole School and College Approach (WSCA), which helps schools and colleges embed mental health and wellbeing across leadership, curriculum and environment. This work supports the NHS 10 Year Health Plan’s focus on mental health support teams and expanding whole-school approaches to prevention and early intervention for children and young people

Resources include a Best Practice Review, which has received 35,000 downloads, and a digital WSCA Measurement Toolkit, now used by more than 450 education settings. These resources support a more consistent and evidence-based approach to mental health across the education system.

Challenge

The government is investing in mental health support teams in schools as part of the NHS 10 Year Plan. However, many school settings lack practical guidance to implement this approach consistently and measure its impact.

Approach

We led the research and development of resources to support the WSCA, working in partnership with national stakeholders, schools and colleges (see full list below).

Together, we used mixed-methods research and stakeholder consultation to develop:

• A best practice review commissioned by NHS England and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)
• A digital WSCA Measurement Toolkit
• A governors’ whole school and college toolkit, developed with governors and National Governance Associations
• MindEd resources, published on the NHS England-funded platform, including two national training programmes
• Four academic papers submitted for peer review

We also led national policy engagement, including a roundtable with the Department for Education, NHS England, and the Department of Health and Social Care.

Impact

Health and care system impact

The programme has improved how schools and colleges understand and respond to the WSCA to mental health. The measurement toolkit provides a structured way to measure the implementation and outcomes of delivering a whole setting approach to mental health.

Laura Whixton, Programme Manager (Mental Health Support Teams), Children & Young People’s Mental Health Programme, NHS England said:  “An evidence-based review of best practice and subsequent creation of the implementation and impact toolkit not only brought stakeholders together but added to the ability for MHSTs to collaboratively, with education settings, strengthen their support for poor mental health prevention activities. The robust approach taken led to the programme being able to reference the toolkit in the MHST operating manual as a resource example.”

Economic impact

Full economic evaluation is ongoing. By embedding prevention and early support, the WSCA can generate economic value through reduced pressure on specialist mental health services, improved educational and workforce outcomes, and lower long-term costs across health, education and public services. This supports the NHS 10 Year Health Plan’s emphasis on early intervention and Mental Health Support Teams.

Service user impact

Early adopter settings have reported improvements in governance, staff confidence and wellbeing initiatives. The best practice review and research have received over 35,000 downloads and has been presented at major national and international conferences, influencing national policy and Mental Health Support Team Operating Guidance.

Over 450 schools are registered to use the digital measurement toolkit in its first six months, demonstrating strong sector engagement. National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) ARC KSS (Applied Research Collaboration Kent Surrey and Sussex) is currently funding the evaluation of the implementation and impact of the toolkit.

Spread and scalability

The work has informed Department for Education guidance and Mental Health Support Team Operating Guidance. It has also contributed to the Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Bill.

The programme has been disseminated nationally through partners including NHS England, the Department for Education, Ofsted, and national associations. Broader adoption of the WSCA Digital Measurement Toolkit would support schools and colleges to systematically assess the implementation and impact of their whole-setting mental health and wellbeing work, strengthening evidence, accountability and continuous improvement

WSCA partners

• NHS England
• The University of Sussex
• NIHR ARC KSS
• West Sussex County Council
• The Charlie Waller Trust
• Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• Department for Education
• Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex

The team will continue to work with NHS England and the Department for Education to disseminate the governors’ toolkit and digital measurement platform further.

WSCA resources and contacts

• WSCA Measurement Toolkit
• Best Practice Review
• For further information, contact Becca Randell via enquiries@healthinnovation-kss.com