Overview

This bill amends the Education Act 2002 to legally require state-maintained schools in England and Wales to prioritize pupils' mental health and wellbeing alongside their academic achievement.

Description

The Schools (Mental Health and Wellbeing) Bill mandates that state-maintained schools in England and Wales explicitly include the promotion of pupils' mental health and wellbeing as a key part of their curriculum. This is achieved by amending Section 78 of the Education Act 2002. The amendment adds a new clause requiring schools to actively promote the mental health and wellbeing of their pupils in addition to their academic attainment.

Key Aspects:

• Legal Requirement: Makes promoting pupil mental health and wellbeing a legal requirement for schools.
• Curriculum Inclusion: Requires the integration of mental health and wellbeing into the school curriculum.
• Geographic Scope: Applies to state-maintained schools in England and Wales only.
• Commencement: The Act comes into force six months after it is passed.

Government Spending

The bill itself does not specify any direct government spending. The implementation may require additional resources for schools, but no figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

The bill directly affects:

• State-maintained schools in England and Wales: They will be legally required to integrate mental health and wellbeing into their curriculum and practices.
• Pupils: The bill aims to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
• Teachers and school staff: They will need to adapt their teaching and support systems to address the mental health needs of pupils.

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