Pupil Happiness at School

What England’s Top Schools Are Doing Differently

Practical strategies from award-winning schools and trusts leading the way in pupil wellbeing, inclusion, and engagement.

Launched 21st May 2025

In Edurio’s Pupil Experience survey, with responses from over 130,000 pupils, we identified a troubling national trend: happiness is falling, particularly in secondary and sixth-form settings.

Yet some schools stand out, with pupils reporting high levels of connection, inclusion, and emotional safety.

This guide reveals what those award-winning schools do differently and how you can adapt their practices to your context.

What’s inside the guide

Built from data and in-depth interviews with leaders from 11 top-performing Edurio Award-winning schools, the guide is structured around four practical themes:

• Foundations of pupil happiness: How schools define and measure wellbeing in ways that reflect their values and communities.

• Strategies to foster inclusion and belonging: Trusted routines and systems that help every pupil feel safe, connected, and supported.

• Barriers, feedback and responsive change: How schools listen to pupil voice, identify barriers early, and make agile improvements.
• The pupil happiness team: How staff, parents and trust leaders work together to create a thriving school culture.

Complete the form to get the guide delivered straight to your inbox.