Become a More Mentally Healthy School or College

Most schools already care a lot about mental health. The harder question is where to put your effort next. Staff are tired, a few loud voices get most of the attention, and the families you most want to reach rarely come through the door.

The framework here comes from work with hundreds of schools and covers six areas: staff wellbeing, feeling safe and welcoming, every learner's voice, vulnerable learners, parents and carers, and asking for help. Score yourself out of 10 on each, then ask what it would take to get from a three to a four, not how to reach 10. There's a free audit to download and use with colleagues.

There are plenty of small ideas other schools have made work, too, such as a headteacher who's seen taking a proper lunch break, or helpline details on the back of the toilet doors.