The Connection Between Educational Reform and Student Well-Being in the UK

13th March 2025 Daniel Lloyd

Today, the question of student well-being is one of the most discussed worldwide because specialists believe that it can affect the educational process pretty much and cause a lot of issues.

Thus, there are a lot of tools that college learners can use in order to get assistance with their duties and have some time to rest. One of those helping tools is an essay and term paper writing service that a student can turn to for professional writing help. At the same time, the education systems in different countries undergo various reforms that are targeted to make the process smoother and more effective for students, yet at times we can see that these reforms have both positive and negative effects on learners.

In this article, we will discuss the most recent reforms in the UK and see how these have influenced the student well-being and decision making.

Why Is Student Well-Being Such a Widely Discussed Issue Today?

As we have already mentioned, student well-being is a pretty important question today, and many specialists work hard to make the education beneficial for learners. So, why is it so important to support student well-being?

Mental health issues. Today, students face a large number of mental health problems, like anxiety, depression, stress, etc. Studies have shown that a negative school climate can harm their psychological well-being.
Impact on academic performance. If a student feels depressed, this can influence their academic achievements. On the contrary, statistics show that a positive school climate leads to higher test scores, GPA, and grades.
Long-term consequences. Mental health issues can also develop more severe disorders in adulthood, like psychological issues.
Social and emotional development. Overall well-being can lead to better social interactions among students, which is essential for personal growth.
School safety and environment. If a school focuses on its students’ well-being, this can contribute to a safer and more inclusive educational environment. This can help reduce cases of bullying and violence as well.
Teacher and staff well-being. Student well-being is tightly connected to educators because to cooperate effectively, both have to feel good. Working with depressed students is not an easy task; thus, student well-being can influence the professors’ well-being, too.
Economic implications. Considering student mental health can lead to economic benefits because the government can reduce healthcare costs and improve productivity in the long run.

Educational Reforms in the UK and Student Well-Being

We have named the most important reforms that changed the modern education system in the UK, as well as discussed the issues and benefits these have brought to young adults at colleges.

Curriculum Changes

The revision of the National Curriculum emphasized core subjects, like English, mathematics, and science, and these changes have influenced the students pretty much. Let’s take a look at some of the effects these changes caused.

Academic pressure. The more rigorous curriculum raised expectations, and subjects like math and science became more demanding.
Greater focus on core subjects. Of course, these are beneficial for STEM careers, but some students feel restricted because creative subjects receive less emphasis.

Assessment and Exams

Reforms have altered GCSE and A-level structures. As a result, the education became more exam-focused rather than coursework-based. The grading system was changed from A*-G to 9-1 in GCSEs.

Higher stress. The shift from coursework-based assessments to final exams has increased pressure on students.
More standardized grading. It also should be said that the 9-1 GCSE grading system offers clearer distinctions, yet some students still struggle with the transition.

Academization of Schools

Many schools have converted to academies. Well, as a result, they operate independently from local authorities and have more control over budgets and curricula.

Education quality. Academies have more independence, but at the same time, this has led to gaps in teaching standards as well as resource allocation.
Specialized learning approaches. Some academies offer tailored curriculums, and their students can benefit from specific interests or needs.

Higher Education and Tuition Fees

University tuition fees have increased significantly, and today, students have to take on loans to cover costs.

Financial burden. Many students face significant debt, and many learners now have issues with university choices and career decisions, respectively.
Competition for university places. Higher tuition fees made some students consider studying abroad because of the fact that many countries offer various programs for foreign students as well as more affordable tuition fees.

Technical and Vocational Education

T-levels (Technical Levels) were introduced as an alternative to A-levels. This means that classroom learning is effectively mixed with industry placements to boost vocational education.

Career-oriented opportunities. T-levels offer practical experience, and students get an opportunity to easily move to the workforce. As a result, they do not have to worry much about finding jobs after graduation.
Limited awareness and recognition. Some students find it challenging to choose between T-levels and traditional A-levels because they do not completely understand the long-term values, and this can cause some stress.

Equity and Access Initiatives

Reforms have aimed at narrowing the gap between disadvantaged and privileged students through funding schemes like the Pupil Premium.

Narrowing attainment gaps. Funding programs like the Pupil Premium have helped disadvantaged students access better resources.
Inequalities. Despite initiatives, students from low-income backgrounds still face challenges in securing top university places.

Teacher Training and Workload Reduction

Teacher retention is another issue that the reforms have influenced. Today, teachers can get better training, mental health support, and fewer administrative burdens.

Support for students. Well-trained teachers can provide higher-quality education and mental health support to their learners, which is a great solution to help students survive in the academic world that is full of duties and questions.
Cooperation issues. Unfortunately, teacher retention caused larger class sizes and students have less individual attention.

Of course, it is pretty difficult to address both equality purposes and mental well-being when presenting educational reforms. The main goal teachers have to follow is to make the process as smooth as possible to help students feel better in the academic world. They have to help learners easily transfer from one position to another because all the well-being issues these can cause can have a long-term effect that can influence the entire educational process.