Welcome to the SHRN Policy Resource Hub — a curated collection of high-impact resources designed to support evidence-informed decision-making in education, health, and youth policy. These materials showcase SHRN’s data infrastructure, research outputs, and collaborative efforts across Wales.
Discover How Policy Meets Research
The School Health Research Network (SHRN) plays a vital role in informing Welsh Government policies that affect the health and wellbeing of children and young people across Wales.
SHRN Overview
SHRN Website: Explore SHRN’s mission, structure, and partnerships with Welsh Government and Public Health Wales.
“Funded by the Welsh Government, SHRN is a cornerstone in providing invaluable data and evidence that shape policy and practice. With its expansion into primary schools, SHRN continues to offer one of the most comprehensive datasets in the UK. 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.”
Lynne Neagle AS/MS
Cabinet Secretary for Education
Discover How Policy Meets Research
SHRN plays a vital role in informing Welsh Government policies that affect the health and wellbeing of children and young people across Wales.
Policy Impacts
- Curriculum Reform: SHRN data informs the Health and Well-being Area of Learning in the new Curriculum for Wales.
- Mental Health Strategy: Supports the Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Wellbeing.
- Healthy Schools: Integrated into the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes (WNHSS) to guide improvements.
- Pandemic Recovery: SHRN surveys revealed nearly 25% of young people reported very high mental health symptoms post-COVID, shaping targeted interventions
Discover how SHRN is advancing innovation in school health and well-being through collaborative research, policy engagement, and national data infrastructure. This page highlights SHRN’s strategic impact across education and public health sectors.
Data and Evidence
- SHRN Data Dashboard: Public Health Wales Interactive dashboard presenting survey data from 2017–2023, including emotional health, social media use, and school-level insights.
- National Data and Reports: Access comprehensive reports from primary and secondary school surveys, supporting strategic planning and policy development.
- Data Resource Profile – International Journal of Epidemiology Peer-reviewed article detailing SHRN’s survey methodology and data linkage capabilities for adolescent health research.
Policy and Practice Impact
- SHRN data has informed:
- Welsh Government’s learner well-being strategies
- School-level health interventions and curriculum planning
- Public Health Wales’ youth mental health initiatives
- Cross-sector collaboration between education and health services
Stay Connected
For updates, collaboration opportunities, and future publications, visit the SHRN website, sign up to our e-digest or email us.