‘Is our target driven school system damaging children’s wellbeing?’ asks YoungMinds
Today (Tuesday 8th November) the YoungMinds Annual Debate will examine whether our target driven school system is damaging children’s mental health and wellbeing.
The evening will also see the launch of YoungMinds in Schools – a two year programme funded by the Department for Education aiming to improve the outcomes for children and young people with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.
YoungMinds Annual Debate will be chaired by BBC Home Editor, Mark Easton and feature panellists:
Fiona Millar, journalist and education campaigner
Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts
Karen Robinson, Head of Education and Equality at the National Union of Teachers
Ian Morris, Head of Wellbeing at Wellington College
Adele Eastman, Senior Policy Specialist at the Centre for Social Justice
Sarah Brennan, Chief Executive YoungMinds said:
“Young people constantly tell us of the pressures they experience at school to succeed and how constant testing makes them feel pressurized and anxious.
“The increase in the number of calls to our Parent’s Helpline this year about exam stress also demonstrates the difficulties we are creating for young people in our school system.
We have to address how this may be damaging children’s wellbeing and creating yet more mental health problems in a generation of young people already worried about dismal future job prospects”
YoungMinds has received two years funding from the Department for Education (DfE) through its Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) programme for the YoungMinds in Schools project.
YoungMinds in Schools seeks to maximise the potential to positively influence the emotional wellbeing and mental health of the whole school community, adults and children, as well as addressing the specific needs of pupils identified as having behavioural, emotional and social difficulties (BESDs).
The programme will work collaboratively with clusters of primary and secondary schools and the services that link to those schools. It will provide training and consultancy support to schools and gather the views of professionals, parents and pupils to shape the development of innovative resources.
Commenting on the launch of YoungMinds in Schools Sarah Brennan, YoungMinds Chief Executive said:
“The recent Mental Health Strategy sets out the importance of early intervention. Schools have a vital role to play in identifying and then supporting children who are having behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.
“Two-thirds of young people who went before the courts in the recent riots were identified as having Special Educational Needs. The importance of giving children the right support early cannot be underestimated if we are to radically improve their outcomes for their future.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- For further information and to attend the debate please contact Chris Leaman on 020 7089 5066 or 07813 810114 email chris.leaman@youngminds.org.uk
- YoungMinds Annual Debate will be held on Tuesday 8thNovember 2011, 6.15pm at the Unicorn Theatre, Tooley Street, London, SE1 2HZ. To attend the debate please email chris.leaman@youngminds.org.uk
- YoungMinds is the UK’s leading children’s mental health charity committed to improving the mental health and emotional well-being of children and empowering their parents and carers. For further information go to www.youngminds.org.uk
- In 2009/2010 YoungMinds received 6002 calls to the helpline, 859 of them about 16-17 year olds and, of those, more than a quarter, 27% , were about schools problems including exam stress. In 2010/2011 YoungMinds received 6332 calls to the helpline, 884 calls were about 16-17 year olds and, of those, 39% were about school problems including exam stress – a 12% increase.
YoungMinds Parents helpline: 0808 802 5544
Keep up to date with YoungMinds. Follow us on Twitter
and make friends with us on Facebook
020 7089 5066 or chris.leaman@youngminds.org.uk
YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people and empowering their parents and carers.
Tags: