Using health and well-being data to support improvements in mental health in schools 

Welcome to the SHINE April 2026 Newsletter

• Spotlight on SHINE Exhibition starting 6th May
• SHINE National Conference 2026 - waiting list now open
• Local Authority Mental Health & Wellbeing Data collection 2026/27
• Education Scotland Curriculum Improvement Cycle: practitioner consultation
• HBSC 2026 - still time to take part
• Events and wider research opportunities for schools
  • Scottish Guidance Association Conference: Sat 19th Sept 2026 : register now
  • Police Scotland Partnership Learning Opportunities amended events calendar
  • Just Finance Foundation - free resources for schools
  • National Autism Implementation Team: Understanding Experiences of Anxiety Related Absence from School through a Neuro‑affirming Lens survey
  • Neurodiversity in Scottish Schools (NISS) : Exploring views on psychologically informed reflective practice in schools
  • Call for Scottish teachers to contribute to shaping a new mental health research project across the 4 UK nations - 1 or 2 volunteers required
  • RISE survey: Responses to Food Insecurity in School and Educational Environments - please complete the survey to contribute to this new research

Spotlight on SHINE Exhibition: 6th to 31st May 2026

Throughout the month of May, the work of SHINE will be showcased in the Byres Community Hub on Level 1 on the Clarice Pears Building in the School of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow. The Byres Community Hub is open to the public and holds regular exhibitions to bring the work of the School of Health and Wellbeing to the wider public audience.

We are delighted to have this opportunity to share our work. The exhibition will include quotes reflecting the experiences of school members and researchers who have worked with SHINE over the years. One section will showcase SHINE's research outputs and engagement activities. Eight SHINE affiliated research projects have contributed posters celebrating their work with SHINE. Results from both the ABSAIL (Addressing Barriers to School Attendance to Improve Long-term Outcomes) and HBSC ( The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children) Study will also be on display. 

If you're passing 90 Byres Road, do pop in to have a look from 6th to 31st May. 

SHINE Annual National Network Event 2026: Waiting list open

Local Authority mental health and wellbeing data collection 2026/27

Education Scotland Curriculum Improvement Cycle

As part of the evolving Curriculum Improvement Cycle, the Health and Wellbeing team at Education Scotland is seeking schools and settings interested in working with us to exemplify emerging thinking around Health and Wellbeing as a Responsibility of All, now articulated as Mental, Emotional, Social and Physical Wellbeing (MESP) as a Responsibility of All

Participating schools and settings will:

• receive an update on the current iteration of the work
• have the opportunity to discuss how they might contribute examples of practice
• help shape national understanding of what high‑quality Mental, Emotional, Social and Physical wellbeing (MESP) as a Responsibility of All looks like in action

This invitation is open to all sectors, and we welcome interest from any school or setting keen to explore how Mental, Emotional, Social and Physical wellbeing (MESP) as a Responsibility of All can be strengthened.

If you would like to note your interest or find out more, please contact cheryl.kremer@educationscotland.gov.scot

HBSC study: last call for school participants

Thank you to all the schools who have already completed the 2026 HBSC survey!

Each participating school will receive their own school HBSC report with aggregate data (subject to minimum pupil number requirements) to help inform health improvement planning. 

If you have already received a survey pack, please complete the survey by the end of June (look out for your email as we have been in touch about survey completion in secondary schools in June).

If new schools would like to take part, there is still time. Please contact the Project Manager at Judith.Brown@glasgow.ac.uk 

Thanks to schools' participation over the last 40 years, young people's voices have helped to shape policy, leading to real-world impact by reducing health inequalities and driving health improvements. See below an example of how HBSC data are used to monitor and provide evidence of trends:

Upcoming Events for Schools

Join colleagues from across Scotland for the Scottish Guidance Association Annual Conference — a dynamic day of learning, networking and sharing practice designed for professionals supporting young people. The conference will be held on Saturday 19th September 2026 from 10am to 3,30pm at Carnegie Conference & Events Centre (CCEC) — now in its new location! Registration is now open. Expect an engaging programme packed with relevant, practical sessions from leading organisations and practitioners:

Talk About Trust – Resources & Training : Explore free, evidence-based resources and training for teachers covering alcohol, vaping, nicotine products and cannabis, and how Talk About Trust can work directly with schools.

Kooth – Digital Mental Health Support : Hear insights into the issues facing Scottish young people, preview a new sector-leading app, and discover what mental health support may be available in your area.

Therapet® – Who We Are and What We Do: Learn about the work of Canine Concern Scotland Trust, including Reading With Dogs and ‘PAWS Against Stress’® and the positive impact on schools and young people.

Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP): An overview of the MVP programme, its impact on school ethos, and flexible implementation models for schools and communities.

Health and Wellbeing Curriculum Update: A valuable overview of the development of the new HWB curriculum for PSE, PEPAS and Food — designed to be relevant, accessible and future-focused for ages 3–18.

Developing  Pastoral Training in Schools: Discover how internal pastoral training can strengthen support for pupils, with a focus on PGDE students and sharing effective school-based practice.

Our event is suitable for PTs and DHTs in Guidance and Pastoral Support. It will also be of interest to anyone hoping to progress into these areas in the future. Your ticket will include welcome refreshments, access to all presentations and any resources they provide, lunch and an opportunity to network with other Guidance staff from across Scotland.

• £80 Early Bird Tickets(members who book, and pay for, their ticket before the end of July)
• £85 Member Tickets (SGA membership continues to be free via our website)
• £100 - Non-Member Tickets.

Police Scotland have amended the previously issued Partnership Learning Programme. Please find the updated programme of training events for teachers below:                         Updated Partnership Learning Opportunities programme

If you wish to attend any of the sessions, you can now sign up using the link below: POLICE SCOTLAND PARTNERSHIP LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES - Sign Up Form – Fill in form

Wider Research Opportunities for Schools

The LifeSavers programme is a free financial education initiative for primary schools, delivered by the Just Finance Foundation. It helps children build healthy money habits — now and for the future. We provide high-quality training and ready-to-use resources, equipping teachers to deliver engaging, meaningful lessons about money.

What’s included? 

• 5 Big Questions about Money – classroom resources, lesson activities, and values-based assembly outlines for First and Second Level  

• Milo’s Money – an illustrated storybook with Milo the Dino soft toy, plus Early and First Level classroom resources  

• Curriculum Mapping – clear links to Curriculum for Excellence

• CPD for staff – building confidence in delivering financial education  

• Conversation Cards – prompts to spark discussion and develop critical thinking  

LifeSavers helps children to build positive attitudes towards money - supporting their wellbeing, emotional awareness, confidence and ability to make healthy, informed choices.

Registration, staff CPD and all resources are fully funded and available at no cost to schools.  To find out more, visit our website or email laura.whittet@jff.org.uk

The National Autism Implementation Team (NAIT) are undertaking a study in 2026 to better understand Anxiety Related Absence in neurodivergent children and young people in Local Authority mainstream schools in Scotland. This study is funded by Scottish Government and has ethical approval from Queen Margaret University. Three surveys are live until the end of June 2026 for:

• Parents and Carers of children and young people in mainstream primary or secondary schools

• Practitioners from a range of backgrounds who support children and young people with this issue

• Young neurodivergent adults aged 18-25 who have experience of the issue (not formal diagnosis required)

Survey for practitioners
Please use the QR code or follow the link to the information sheet and survey for practitioners who have experience of supporting neurodivergent children, young people and their families with Anxiety Related Absence. The survey should take around 30 minutes to complete.

We are inviting secondary school teachers to take part in a short University of Glasgow survey exploring views on psychologically informed reflective practice in schools, as part of the Neurodiversity in Scottish Schools (NISS) research programme.

The survey asks about your experiences and perspectives, and should take around 10–15 minutes to complete. Your input will help shape future approaches to supporting staff and improving outcomes for neurodivergent young people.  We would also be grateful if you could share this among colleagues or teams. 

Participation is voluntary and anonymous. Full information about the study, including ethics approval and consent, is provided at the start of the survey.

As a thank you, you will have the option to enter a prize draw for one of four £50 vouchers. This is done via a separate link at the end of the survey, so your responses remain anonymous. Click here to take the survey: https://uofg.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8BqXo3b4Dilo5mu

We would really value your input and thank you in advance for your help with this study!

Call for Scottish teachers to contribute to shaping a new mental health research project across the 4 UK nations

SHINE, working with research partners at Bangor University, the University of Birmingham, University of Glasgow, Cardiff University, and Ulster University, is developing a grant proposal on mental health support in UK secondary schools. We want to understand how schools' needs, resources, and stakeholders interact to deliver effective support for students, while identifying gaps, challenges, and suggest solutions.

To shape this work, we’d value your insight. Scottish voices are especially important, as schools here operate in a unique education system with distinct wellbeing policies and priorities. Your experiences will ensure our recommendations fit real school life and work across the UK.

We’re inviting you to a short online meeting with 10 participants from the 4 UK nations where parents, carers, teachers and Health Practitioners will come together to help us shape the project. 

In the session, together, we’ll:

• Sense-check our ideas and planned work packages
• Discuss what feels relevant, realistic, and useful in your context
• Identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities
• Co-create practical recommendations from real-life experience

Your experience is important to us; your input will directly influence the project design and help it genuinely support learners. 

Benefits for you:

• Parents/carers: Share your child’s school experiences and what support makes a difference. Get project info, have your voice heard, and shape family-focused work.
• Practitioners: Counts as professional development, reflect on school mental health needs, network, and contribute to practical guidance/resources.
• Schools: Gain insights on tailored strategies, future resources/guidance, and evidence-based wellbeing policy improvements.

Meeting details:

• Duration: 1 hour only
• Format: Online via Teams
• Prep: None needed, just bring lived experiences!
• Thanks: £27.50 shopping voucher + certificate of attendance per participant
• Privacy: Not recorded; all input anonymized for proposal refinement only

If you’re interested or have questions, please contact z.jorjoranshushtari@bangor.ac.uk  and we’ll share full details. Thank you, we hope you’ll join us!

Click HERE to take part Or RISE PROJECT!
Questions? Contact Ellie Ansell at ema440@student.bham.ac.uk

All the best,

The SHINE Team

Dawn Haughton
Schools Health and Wellbeing Improvement Research Network (SHINE) Manager

E-mail:  Dawn.Haughton@glasgow.ac.uk
Web:      www.gla.ac.uk/shine
Twitter: @ScotlandSHINE