Meeting the mental health challenge in secondary schools

Secondary schools across the UK are facing a perfect storm:

• A sharp rise in students presenting with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs
• Increasing scrutiny from Ofsted and other inspection bodies
• Staff feeling under pressure, under-resourced, and unsure where to turn - often leading to burnout, low morale, and rising retention challenges

At Thrive, we speak to school leaders every day who are trying to support the emotional wellbeing of their students - while juggling stretched budgets, persistent behaviour challenges, and mounting accountability.

Why SEMH needs are rising

The surge in SEMH needs isn’t happening in isolation. It’s being driven by several converging factors:

• Better identification – Schools are doing a better job of recognising emotional need, but often without the capacity to address it effectively
• Post-pandemic impact – Students are still processing the emotional and social fallout of lockdowns and disrupted learning
• Financial insecurity – Cost of living pressures are creating anxiety and instability in many homes
• Digital overwhelm – Constant online engagement and exposure to distressing content are affecting emotional development and resilience

These pressures are having a particularly profound effect on disadvantaged pupils, who are more likely to experience multiple adverse factors - including poverty, trauma, or inconsistent support at home. As a result, the gap in emotional wellbeing and readiness to learn is widening.

The impact of this is stretching staff thin - and creating urgent demand for scalable, evidence-based support that works.

A proven solution for mainstream secondaries

In response, we’ve created a new SEMH intervention designed specifically for mainstream secondary schools. It provides the tools, training and structure you need to achieve measurable outcomes and feel confident ahead of inspection.

What’s included?

This targeted intervention is flexible, scalable and cost-effective, with packages from just 50 students. It includes:

• Thrive Licensed Practitioner training (one-off fee of £1,660 + VAT)
• Access to Thrive-Online for between 50 and 200 students
• Implementation support from a Thrive expert

This approach has been designed to be both affordable and sustainable for schools. It can be funded through existing streams such as Pupil Premium or other targeted support budgets, making it an accessible option for schools at any stage of their SEMH journey.

Why it works

Rooted in Thrive’s established evidence-based theory and backed by robust impact data, this intervention helps schools meet the increasing demand for structured SEMH support that’s practical and scalable.
You’ll be able to: 

• Spot and respond to SEMH needs earlier and more effectively in a trauma-informed way
• Effectively address disruptive behaviour by identifying the emotional needs that may be driving it
• Embed inspection-ready practice with confidence
• Measure and demonstrate real impact with robust data

Proven impact

A recent Landmark study by ImpactEd confirmed that:

• Improved attendance
• Reduced exclusions
• Greater staff wellbeing

And we know that when staff feel supported and confident in their role, they’re more likely to stay. Thrive helps schools strengthen both student outcomes and staff retention.

Meridian High School’s story shows what’s possible when SEMH support is embedded effectively:

• 17% improvement in overall student absence
• 15% drop in persistent absence
• A substantial uplift in positive behaviour – with an average 56-point rise per student

In 2023, the school achieved an Ofsted ‘Good’ rating for the first time in over 15 years, with inspectors highlighting improvements in behaviour, strong pastoral support, and positive relationships.

Secure your SEMH intervention starting this September

Spaces for the September cohort of our new SEMH intervention for mainstream secondary schools are limited.

Reserve your place by 11th July to ensure your school is equipped, empowered and inspection-ready for the new academic year.

Learn more