Ofsted to measure wellbeing in schools

TdaNews Direct
Published: 14 October, 2008

Schools' inspectorate Ofsted has stated that it is to test the wellbeing of pupils in new "recognise and reward" reforms to its assessment criteria.

Information from surveys already run by schools with both pupils and parents will be assessed by the educational watchdog.

A school's ability to promote healthy eating and exercise will also be examined to see how a pupil's wellbeing could be improved upon through educational strategies.

Other things covered by this new scheme will be how schools discourage students from smoking, drugs and alcohol, as well as attitudes towards sex and relationships.

A school's ability to deal with cases of bullying will also be addressed.

Figures on the take-up of physical education and school lunch participation will be recorded but not rates of obesity, teenage pregnancy and drug use, which was stated in many early reports regarding the scheme.

Earlier this month, Ofsted highlighted the benefits of taking children outside of the classroom to learn, actively encouraging schools to take educational trips as part of the curriculum.