The UK is increasingly falling behind many other nations in recognising that the true purpose of education is not simply academic achievement, but the nurturing of good lives and flourishing young people. Countries around the world are now placing far greater emphasis on student wellbeing, belonging, emotional development, life satisfaction, creativity, relationships, and holistic human development alongside academic success. And they are investing in the early years as the key period to avoid later costs in social health and wellbeing.

Yet in the UK, the early years is significantly underfunded, and children and young people continue to experience an education system dominated by excessive testing, performance pressure, competition, and narrow definitions of success. At the same time, teacher wellbeing has reached crisis levels.  Wales and Scotland have begun to respond to this, but England remains committed to systems that are clearly failing those within them. Currently:

•    1 in 5 children  in England have a mental health disorder 
•    Our adolescents have the highest levels of loneliness in Europe 
•    Around one-third of teachers leave the profession within five years 
•    We are at crisis level with underfunded childcare and nursery provision

An exhausted education system cannot nurture flourishing young people. Children thrive when the adults around them are themselves supported, valued, emotionally healthy, and able to build meaningful human relationships. Teacher wellbeing is therefore not separate from student wellbeing — it is foundational to it.

As levels of anxiety, loneliness, disengagement, and emotional distress continue to rise among young people, we are calling for an education system that recognises them as whole human beings, not simply future economic units or examination results.  If we want future generations in the UK to flourish, we need to invest in the wellbeing of our youngest citizens and the adults they spend time with.

You can see all the key stats and what a coalition of leading UK organisations is calling for on www.theinnerlifematters.org uk

To trigger a formal response from the UK Government, a petition must receive 10,000 signatures. If a petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the Petitions Committee will consider it for a debate in Parliament. We need everyone's help.