RESEARCH READY THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SCHOOLS HEALTH & WELLBEING RESEARCH NETWORK WINTER 2016

How to get the most out of the Network:

 Get involved in one of our research opportunities  Build links with other member schools

A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE SCHOOLS HEALTH & WELLBEING RESEARCH NETWORK The Network has been hosted by UCLPartners for the first two years of development and ’proof of concept’. In recent months, we have considered various hosting arrangements for the Network with the potential to extend our offer for member schools and expand the geographical reach.

We are therefore delighted to inform members that agreement has been reached with the Centre for them to host the Network and integrate activities with their national, Schools in Mind programme. Below we can hear from Prof Russell Viner, the chair of the Network’s Executive Group, and Dr Miranda Wolpert, Director of Anna Freud’s Evidence Based Practice Unit, with their views on the changes.

For those of unfamiliar with the Anna Freud Centre there is more information about their work and Schools In Mind elsewhere in this newsletter.

Every year at the Anna Freud opportunity to host the Schools Centre we work to improve the Health and Wellbeing Research lives of thousands of children and Network and further expand our young people with mental health collaborative and partnership problems. We provide specialist Inside this issue: work. Dr Miranda Wolpert help, we train others, and we Key data on adolescents 2 carry out innovative research. I am pleased that the Schools The 2015 Health Behaviour of 2 Health and Wellbeing Research Our impact comes from School-age Children report Network is able to continue partnership and collaboration. About the Anna Freud Centre 3 through our new hosts at The Working in partnership helps us Anna Freud Centre. I look have a much bigger impact on Professional development 3 forward to the new the lives of children and families pilot for early career re- opportunities that will develop searchers and middle leaders than we would ever be able to as a result of our partnership. achieve alone. Training opportunities at the 4 Anna Freud Centre Prof Russell Viner We are excited by the

In partnership with: UCL and its Institute for Education, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of East London, Middlesex University, University of Hertfordshire, Queen Mary and Anglia Ruskin University

Page 2

RESEARCH READY

KEEPING TRACK OF CHANGES TO YOUNG PEOPLE’S HEALTH AND WELLBEING: BY DR ANN HAGELL, ASSOCIATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE’S HEALTH The Association for Young contraception clinic People’s Health has just published - 31% of young people and 37% of the 10th edition of ‘Key Data on young woman aged 11-18 are Adolescence’ (KDA), bringing overweight or obese together statistics on important - 23% of young people aged 11-15 aspects of young people’s lives report that they have a long-term from across the UK. ‘Key Data on illness or disability Adolescence 2015’ covers - Three quarters of mental health information about health problems start before the early young people report high life behaviour and lifestyle, sexual 20s satisfaction. health, mental health, physical - More than one in five young The full version of KDA 2015 was health and long-term conditions, people are from an ethnic produced with the support of and use of health care services. minority Public Health England. To access There are currently 7.4 million The data highlight several the full, free document go to young people aged 10-19, forming dramatic trends, including the www.ayph.org.uk/key-data-on- 12% of the population. Key increase in young people living at adolescence. The online version statistics include: home into their 20s, and the 50% also contains a wider range of drop in the proportion of 11-15 data and hyperlinks to allow you - In 2012, over one quarter of 16- year olds who are regular to access original sources and the 19 year olds visited an NHS smokers, and that four out of five data behind each chart.

HEALTH BEHAVIOUR OF SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN 2015

The Health Behaviour of School-aged ternational data is available from: “As you get older Children (HBSC) survey is an interna- http://www.hbsc.org/. life seems to get tional survey of 11, 13 and 15 year olds Findings include: more depressing. across 44 countries in Europe and North America and is curated by the - Overall life satisfaction: 74% of You become more World Health Organisation. The survey young people reported high life satis- aware of things in is carried out every four years and in faction, a small reduction on previ- the world and England is led by one of our partner ous surveys. Notably there was a significant reduction in life satisfac- have more universities: the University of Hertford- shire. The latest data, from 2014, has tion for 15 year olds: boys reduced pressures put on recently been published and provides from 81% in 2010 to 74%, whilst girls you.” both a snapshot of young people’s fell from 69% to 55% in 2014. Katie-Lou, 16 health and wellbeing and some trends - The strong downward trend for since 2002. young people’s smoking and drinking The 2014 survey has a sample of 5,335 is captured: weekly smoking has fall- 11, 13 and 15 year olds recruited from en from 13% in 2002 to less than 3%. 48 secondary schools (giving a gender- Whilst 15 year olds drinking alcohol balanced sample in excess of 1,500 for weekly has fallen from about half in each age group). Topics covered in- 2002 to just over 10%. clude school and family life as well as - 73% of students reported having at health themes such as physical activity, least 8.5 hours sleep on school smoking and substance misuse, rela- nights. But, when 15 year olds were tionships and bullying. The report and asked whether they got enough executive summary can be download- sleep to be able to concentrate at ed from: http:// school, 43% of girls and 29% of boys www.hbscengland.com/ whilst the in- said they did not.

Page 3

THE ANNA FREUD CENTRE, AND SCHOOLS IN MIND “Mental health and education is a two-way Schools in Mind is a network wellbeing. Scandinavia. street. Mental health set up by the Anna Freud professionals can be Centre to help school We are also home to some Schools in Mind aims helpful to teachers but they professionals in finding, of the UK’s leading experts to share this expertise, also have a great deal to learn from them if the evaluating and implementing in the interface between making it more opportunity for schools to solutions that promote the mental health and immediately available education, with to busy school leaders. enhance wellbeing and mental health and wellbeing resilience is to be fully experienced teachers who The network will also of entire school realised. A network that communities. The network are also respected, NHS- stimulate discussion ensures knowledge provides an opportunity for trained psychotherapists. with the aim of exchange is the essential school professionals to influencing debate, next step “ The Anna Freud Centre has discuss and share materials research, campaigning , Chief successfully set up and on key school mental health and the formulation of Executive of the Anna now runs the first Freud Centre issues with each other and Alternative Provision with educational, mental Family School based on a health and academic multi-family groups experts. approach, designed for The Anna Freud Centre is a young people with severe children’s mental health problems who are finding charity with over 60 years’ it difficult to fit into experience of caring for mainstream education. young minds. In partnership Our pioneering multi- with UCL and Yale family approach is being University, we are at the used in schools across forefront of national and London and around international research in the Britain, Europe and field of child and family PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EARLY CAREER AN APOLOGY RESEARCHERS AND MIDDLE LEADERS: A PILOT Update about the Health & Wellbeing The Network, together with ECRs have been delivered schools and the education in coordination with the system in England. Survey: the Swiss Cottage School teaching school alliance MLs’ programme. ECRs Important themes that The summer term edition and early career and MLs’ schools have have emerged include: of the newsletter gave researchers (ECRs), been linked and visits will  The value of an overview advance notice of a primarily from UCL’s be carried out to develop of the school system for briefing workshop for Institute for Child Health, is joint enquiries by the ECRs educated outside secondary schools about trialling a parallel participants. the UK. the Network’s online programme of training and The value for such a  The importance of survey. development. programme emerged Unfortunately changes to clarity about child The school middle leaders from discussions with the the Network and protection, when ECRs (MLs) are following a one teaching school alliance, technical difficulties are working in schools. year programme interested in ways to meant this was not able  Practical ways to developing their skills in enhance research and to go ahead as planned in approach collaboration. readiness to for roles such enquiry skills among November. The MLs and ECRs are as head of year or key stage emerging leaders, and The Network is working towards or literacy coordinator. The with ECRs, both 1:1 and committed to continue to presenting an action ECRs are all either PhD or through a focus group, develop the survey and an research project and a post doctoral researchers. about gaps in knowledge update will be circulated summary poster by June. A series of workshops for and understanding of shortly.

ABOUT US The purpose of the Network is to develop research of the high- est quality to inform practice, thus improve outcomes for chil- dren and young people. We are a growing partnership of schools and universities across north London, Essex and Herts who are committed to reduce the gap between research and practice.

Anna Freud Centre To find out more about us and how to join, go to our website: 4-8 Rodney street Kings Cross London N1 9JH

Email: [email protected]

www.annafreud.org

CURRENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE ANNA FREUD CENTRE Current Research Opportunities

Our internationally respected trainings and We ask all member schools wherever conferences deliver practical and advanced possible to participate in research. The training to allied mental health professionals. following are being offered by our Below are some featured trainings and university researchers. For more details conferences specifically for school staff: email: [email protected]

Talking About Self Harm: Listen, Plan, Act, 1.Mindfulness and Resilience in Feedback. For teachers & frontline school Adolescence (MYRIAD) UCL; University of staff Cambridge, .

Mentalization-focused Multi Family Groups This study forms part of a larger project in Schools: a practical guide for how to set investigating whether teaching mindfulness and resilience in schools could be beneficial to young up and run people’s wellbeing. Researchers require partner For a list of all training offered by the AFC, schools for this project, workings with young please visit the Training Directory: people in Years 7-11. This will involve an hour- annafreud.org or email long session once per week for eight weeks. [email protected]

In partnership with: UCL and its Institute for Education, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of East London, Middlesex University, University of Hertfordshire, Queen Mary University of London and Anglia Ruskin University