Building Stronger Schools and Healthier Learners: SHRN’s Role in Wales

SHRN is helping schools across Wales put health and well-being at the heart of education. In this blog, Maria Boffey, SHRN’s External Affairs and Knowledge Exchange Manager, shares how schools are using SHRN data to shape strategies, support learners, and create lasting, evidence-informed change….

How SHRN is Helping Build Stronger Schools and Healthier Learners Across Wales

At SHRN, we believe that when learners are healthy and supported, they thrive—not just academically, but socially and emotionally too. That’s why we’re proud to be a trusted partner working with schools across Wales to embed health and well-being into the heart of school life.

Why SHRN Matters

Every two years, SHRN conducts a national data collection involving learners and school staff. This isn’t just a survey—it’s a powerful tool for change.

When schools take part in SHRN’s data collection, they receive tailored, benchmarkable data that offers real value. This data help schools reflect on their current strategies, highlighting what’s working well and where there’s room for improvement. With clear, school-specific insights, teachers can plan targeted interventions that are grounded in evidence and aligned with their unique school context.

Why does this matter? Because healthier learners are better learners. When students feel safe, supported, and well, they’re more likely to attend, stay engaged, and reach their full potential. A strong foundation of health and well-being is essential for academic success and personal growth. That’s why SHRN’s work is so important: it helps schools create the kind of environment where every learner can thrive.

SHRN is part of a wider effort to embed health and well-being into the education system. We work closely with the Welsh Government, Healthy Schools, and Public Health Wales to ensure that school-level data contributes to national understanding and policy development.

As Lynne Neagle AS/MS,  Cabinet Secretary for Education  has highlighted, this work is about more than data—it’s about empowering schools to make meaningful, lasting change:

“ SHRN is a cornerstone in providing invaluable data and evidence that shape policy and practice. …. This crucial data supports the Welsh Government’s mental health and education policies and drives impactful work in the wider education sector and academia. SHRN is at the forefront of transforming the educational landscape, ensuring the well-being of our children and the future of our communities.”

At SHRN, we know that supporting learners means looking at the full picture. That’s why our surveys explore a wide range of topics that matter deeply to both schools and learners. From mental health and emotional well-being to physical activity, nutrition, substance use, school climate, and pupil voice—our approach is designed to be comprehensive. By giving schools a clearer view of their learners’ experiences, we help them make informed, meaningful decisions that support well-being across the board.

SHRN equips schools with the tools, training, and connections they need to create meaningful, lasting change. From boosting learner well-being to strengthening community engagement, our approach is designed to be practical and empowering. Schools gain access to high-quality, tailored data that informs planning, supports inspections, and tracks progress over time. We offer professional development opportunities that help staff grow, and we foster a culture of collaboration through a strong network of schools, researchers, and public sector partners. SHRN also helps schools empower young people to take the lead in well-being initiatives, while promoting a positive, inclusive school culture. By using SHRN insights, schools can build stronger relationships with families and local services and embed sustainable improvements that benefit the whole school community.

The most meaningful insights into SHRN’s impact come directly from the schools we work with and inspire our work:

“SHRN data helps us plan a curriculum that responds to learners’ real experiences.” 

Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth

“Our SHRN data has helped us create a learner-led, age-appropriate well-being curriculum.”

Whitchurch High School.

Celebrating the Power of  an Evidence-Informed Approach

We’ve explored how SHRN is supporting schools across Wales to place health and well-being at the centre of education. From providing high-quality, tailored data to fostering collaboration and professional growth, SHRN is helping schools make informed, meaningful changes that benefit learners and staff alike.

The voices of schools themselves speak volumes—showing how SHRN data is being used to shape responsive curricula, support inspections, and strengthen whole-school approaches to health and well-being. These real-world school examples remind us that when schools are equipped with the right tools and insights, they can create environments where every learner has the opportunity to thrive.

At its core, SHRN is about partnership, evidence, and impact. And as schools continue to engage with the network, the collective effort to build stronger, healthier learning communities grows even stronger.

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Let’s keep the conversation going—and continue building stronger schools and healthier learners together.