The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, has initiated the largest-ever survey of schools and colleges across the country, aiming to capture comprehensive data on students’ experiences and how they receive support within the education system. The survey is designed to drive improvements in schools by gathering anonymised responses from school leaders about the broad spectrum of support and resources provided to pupils and their families.

This marks the first time that the Children’s Commissioner has exercised her statutory powers to collect data from schools and colleges on such a large scale. The information gathered will inform recommendations to the government, aiming to shape an education system that meets the needs of all students.

Dame Rachel de Souza explained the importance of the initiative, saying, “As a former teacher and headteacher, I know the influential role schools play in children’s lives. This survey will give us irrefutable evidence of how schools support children beyond the classroom, helping to ensure that their real experiences are reflected in future policy decisions.”

The survey seeks to better understand how schools support children in areas such as mental health care, in-class adaptations for students with additional needs, and the availability of resources like food banks and uniform support. It also addresses emerging issues, including the prevalence of vaping, mobile phone policies, and interactions between schools and local police on incidents such as drug-related offences and child sexual abuse.

The School Survey follows the findings from the Big Ambition report, which engaged a quarter of a million children and young people earlier this year. The feedback from that survey underscored the importance of education, with “school” emerging as the most frequently mentioned word by respondents.

Some key areas of focus for the School Survey include:

• Roles and responsibilities of school staff, including mental health counsellors and educational psychologists.
• Support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including how schools meet the requirements of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
• Emerging concerns like vaping, e-cigarette use, and mobile phone policies.
• School safety, including collaboration with local police on matters of violence, drugs, and exploitation.
• Resources and additional services are provided by schools, such as food banks and after-school activities.

The survey’s results, which will be anonymised and published in 2025, aim to provide valuable insights into the broader role schools play in children’s development. These findings are expected to influence policy decisions at the highest levels, ensuring that the voices of children and their experiences are at the heart of future education reforms.