Some argue that school is a means to an end, and time spent in lessons may be unpleasant, but it helps these children in the future. The question is 'to what end'. Are school years something which have to be tolerated in order to have happier lives later in life, or something which have to be tolerated to add to the productivity of the UK economy? Others (such as the authors of this book) would even argue that it is desirable for children to be happy even during their school hours and school years. The wellbeing of children matters in its own right, as well as the impact on later adult outcomes and wellbeing. The current government has proposed the wellbeing of children as a priority. For this, schools will play an important role.

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13 October 2025     Paper Number CEPOP72

Download PDF - Structured wellbeing curriculum in schools

This publication comes under the following theme: Causes and effects of wellbeing, Targeting policy at wellbeing, Mental health policies