Education

Teachers' union defies Ofsted chief's call to limit schools' role in mental health support

Monday, 29 September 2025 4:04AM UTC

The NASUWT dismisses claims that schools should focus solely on academic teaching, emphasising the essential role of therapeutic support amid growing mental health challenges faced by pupils.

A teachers' union has strongly refuted claims made by former Ofsted chief inspector Baroness Amanda Spielman that schools should not serve as therapeutic institutions for children. Lady Spielman warned that encouraging children to seek out problems could lead them into a negative cycle of unhappiness, suggesting that schools should instead concentrate on delivering a traditional education. She argued that adolescence naturally involves psychological "lumps and bumps" that children must experience to build resilience as adults.

However, the union representing school staff, NASUWT, responded swiftly, asserting that teachers have been compelled to take on roles far beyond education due to years of austerity and reduced external support services. Matt Wrack, NASUWT’s general secretary, emphasised that therapeutic approaches in schools are indispensable given the contemporary challenges faced by pupils. He pointed out that Ofsted’s forthcoming school inspection framework, which will focus on inclusion, makes such approaches essential. Wrack highlighted the numerous pressures on schools today, including funding shortages, family poverty, pandemic aftereffects, and the crisis in SEND provision, which have all increased mental health issues and absenteeism among pupils.

The NASUWT has also advocated for more comprehensive mental health support in schools, including the presence of trained counsellors in all state schools. The union’s general secretary, Dr Patrick Roach, has welcomed political initiatives aimed at improving timely and accessible mental health care tailored to children's needs. Data referenced by the union reveals that over half of teachers report poor pupil mental health as a significant disruption in classrooms, with more than 60% stating that pupils require additional mental health services. The union stresses the importance of extending support from primary education upwards to cover children throughout their schooling.

Lady Spielman’s comments come in the context of wider debates about the role of schools in managing children's wellbeing. She has previously expressed concerns about the unintended consequences of wellbeing checks in schools, warning that such measures might lead children to identify as unhappy or worried even if they are not. Drawing from a government trial across numerous schools, she noted that many interventions intended to support emotional wellbeing can have adverse effects on some pupils, despite short-term improvements.

Moreover, Lady Spielman’s tenure as Ofsted chief was marked by controversy following the tragic suicide of primary school headteacher Ruth Perry, whose school had been downgraded in an Ofsted inspection. An inquest found the inspection process was a contributing factor to Perry’s death. This tragedy drew criticism of Ofsted’s response as being "defensive and complacent," and Perry’s family publicly condemned Lady Spielman’s subsequent peerage, calling it an insult to their sibling’s memory.

The pressures on teachers extend beyond mental health support. Veteran educators have reported escalating pupil violence and aggression, further complicating the learning environment. Former Ofsted inspectors and teaching professionals note that the breakdown in relationships between parents and schools exacerbates issues like poor attendance and behavioural problems. Critics argue that these challenges highlight the necessity of restoring funding and external support services to schools.

During her 2020 speech at the National Children and Adult Services Conference, Lady Spielman underlined the complexities of mental health intervention in schools. She stressed the importance of balancing help provided within educational settings with timely referrals to specialist services, cautioning against overwhelming Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) with too many referrals that might delay support for children in genuine need.

Lady Spielman has also been vocal about the systemic shortcomings in the provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A 2018 Ofsted report she led highlighted inconsistent support and raised concerns about the practice of 'off-rolling'—where schools remove difficult pupils to protect performance statistics. She advocated for more inclusive education policies to better serve all learners.

Recently, she expressed concerns regarding Labour’s proposed tax reforms on private schools, warning these could disrupt education for vulnerable children who attend those institutions. She stressed the need to consider carefully the effect of policy changes on the ability of children with complex needs to access appropriate schooling.

In summary, the debate around the role of schools is multifaceted, with tensions between safeguarding traditional educational aims and addressing the broader social and mental health challenges pupils face. While Lady Spielman cautions against turning schools into therapeutic spaces, education unions and frontline teachers highlight the practical realities that necessitate such support, given the current social and economic context.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/teachers-union-rejects-claim-schools-are-encouraging-children-to-find-problems/a1247809732.html - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.nasuwt.org.uk/article-listing/labour-plans-mental-health-support-schools.html - The NASUWT, a teachers' union, has advocated for the inclusion of school counsellors in all state schools in England. Dr Patrick Roach, the union's General Secretary, welcomed Labour's initiative to implement this vision, emphasising the need for timely and accessible mental health care tailored to children's needs. He highlighted that over 50% of teachers report that poor pupil mental health is causing classroom issues, and more than 60% believe pupils require additional mental health services. The union also calls for improved support for primary school pupils to ensure comprehensive care throughout their education.
https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/amanda-spielman-people-nasuwt-england-ptsd-b2452599.html - A teacher with nearly 30 years of experience expressed concerns about increasing pupil violence and aggression in schools, describing the profession as 'really dangerous'. Amanda Spielman, Ofsted's chief inspector, noted that the breakdown of the social contract between parents and schools has led to lower attendance, poorer behaviour, and friction between parents and schools. The teacher, Wendy Exton, highlighted a surge in violent and confrontational behaviour from pupils, including verbal and physical abuse, and emphasised the need for restored funding and support services to address these challenges.
https://schoolsweek.co.uk/pupil-wellbeing-checks-counterproductive-says-spielman/ - Former Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman cautioned that national wellbeing checks on pupils could be counterproductive, potentially leading children to believe they are 'sad or worried' even when they are not. Spielman opposed an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill that proposed collecting national data on children's mental health and wellbeing. She referenced a government trial involving over 12,000 pupils across 153 schools, which found that four out of five interventions tested had adverse effects on some pupils, despite short-term improvements in emotional difficulties.
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/amanda-spielman-at-ncasc-2020 - In her speech at the National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC) in 2020, Amanda Spielman, then Ofsted chief inspector, discussed the importance of recognising when children need professional mental health intervention and when temporary problems will pass with time. She highlighted the risk of over-intervention, which could overwhelm Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and delay access for children who genuinely need specialist help. Spielman emphasised the need for a balanced approach to mental health support in schools, ensuring that interventions are appropriate and timely.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/dec/04/thousands-of-hard-to-teach-pupils-removed-from-schools-ofsted - Ofsted's 2018 annual report, led by Amanda Spielman, criticised the education system for its 'disjointed and inconsistent' provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The report revealed that thousands of children were missing out on vital support, with diagnoses often delayed and inaccurate. Spielman highlighted the issue of 'off-rolling', where schools exclude difficult pupils to protect their performance results, noting that children with SEND are particularly vulnerable to this practice. She called for a more inclusive approach to education that addresses the needs of all pupils.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/15/labour-vat-raid-on-private-schools-impact-vulnerable-pupils/ - Amanda Spielman, former Ofsted chief inspector, expressed concern over Labour's proposed tax changes to private schools, warning that they could force vulnerable children to leave their current schools. She emphasised the uncertainty this creates for children who need high-quality provision and cautioned against stereotyping private schools, noting that many serve children with complex needs. Spielman highlighted the importance of ensuring that all children have access to appropriate education, regardless of the type of school they attend, and called for careful consideration of the potential impacts of such policy changes.

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative appears to be recent, with the earliest known publication date of the claim by Baroness Amanda Spielman being 10th September 2025. The report references this date, indicating timely coverage. However, the report includes data from earlier in the year, which may affect its freshness score. Additionally, the report cites multiple sources, suggesting a comprehensive approach. No evidence of recycled content or clickbait republishing was found. The presence of updated data alongside older material may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score: 7

Notes: The report includes direct quotes from Matt Wrack, NASUWT’s general secretary, and Dr Patrick Roach, the union’s general secretary. The earliest known usage of these quotes is not immediately available. If identical quotes appear in earlier material, this could indicate reused content. If quote wording varies, noting the differences would be important. If no online matches are found, this would raise the score but flag the content as potentially original or exclusive.

Source reliability

Score: 9

Notes: The narrative originates from the Belfast Telegraph, a reputable news outlet. The NASUWT is a well-established teachers' union in the UK. Baroness Amanda Spielman is the Chief Inspector of Ofsted, a respected public body. The presence of these credible sources strengthens the reliability of the report.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims made in the report are plausible and align with known positions of the NASUWT and Baroness Spielman. The report provides specific details, such as the date of the claim (10th September 2025) and references to previous statements by Lady Spielman. The tone and language used are consistent with the region and topic. No excessive or off-topic details are present, and the structure is focused on the main claim. The report does not lack supporting detail from other reputable outlets.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is recent, sourced from reputable organisations, and presents plausible claims with specific details. While the freshness score is slightly affected by the inclusion of earlier data, the overall assessment is positive.

Education
Mental health
Ofsted