A landmark study into the wellbeing of primary school children in Wales has unveiled a 'sobering' picture of widespread mental health challenges, bullying, and poor lifestyle habits among pupils as young as seven.
Key Findings from 50,000 Pupils
The research, conducted by the School Health Research Network (SHRN), surveyed 51,662 children aged 7 to 11 from over 500 primary schools across all 22 local authorities in Wales. It stands as one of the most comprehensive investigations into primary-age health in the UK.
The data revealed that 68% of children reported having problems sleeping sometimes or always, with 15% going to bed at 10pm or later. In a concerning indicator of emotional wellbeing, about 30% of learners reported 'elevated or clinically significant emotional difficulties'.
Disturbingly, the study found that half of all pupils (51%) had been bullied at school in the past couple of months. A slightly higher proportion of girls reported being bullied, and 29% of Year 6 learners disclosed they had been cyberbullied.
The Impact of Affluence and Identity
The research identified clear patterns linking socioeconomic background to mental health outcomes. Mental health symptoms were found to be more common among pupils from less affluent families, highlighting a significant inequality.
Furthermore, the report noted that for nearly all survey questions, learners who identified as neither a boy nor a girl experienced poorer outcomes across the board, pointing to specific challenges faced by non-binary children.
Lifestyle habits also raised concerns, with fewer than half of children reporting healthy eating patterns. Only 48% ate fruit daily and just 37% consumed vegetables at least once a day. Girls were more likely to report eating fruit daily, while boys were less likely to eat vegetables regularly.
Official Response and Calls for Action
Lynne Neagle, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Education, described some findings as 'sobering', emphasising the importance of listening directly to children to shape future policy.
Rocio Cifuentes, the Children's Commissioner for Wales, stated: "Behind each statistic is a child, and we must respond at pace to what we're hearing because some of what's being reported is deeply concerning." She called for increased investment in school-based mental health staff and the establishment of 'one-stop shops' for child mental health in every health board area.
The Welsh government highlighted its investment of more than £13 million annually in its 'whole school approach' to mental health, with over £3 million dedicated directly to school-based counselling. Officials confirmed they will use this data to inform policies on health and bullying.
The SHRN project, a partnership between the Welsh government, Cardiff University, and Public Health Wales, aims to provide data for schools, public health officials, and policymakers to identify trends and better support children through difficulties.
