Zahawi to make wellbeing and mental health a priority

New Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi has made his first address to the sector, speaking at the NAHT union Conference.

Nadhim Zahawi thanked school leaders for their work throughout the pandemic and their continued dedication to improving the life chances of young people.

He said that mental health must be better understood and that support is provided where it’s needed.

He said: "I want us to put wellbeing at the centre of everything we do in schools alongside a drive for rigorous standards and high performance."

Zahawi also said that this can't be achieved if schools are persistently absent, and that tackling this is another priority. He said: "Another key priority for me will be getting to the root of what is causing children to be persistently absent and then tackling it head on. Because the children who lose out the most from not being in school are likely to be the ones who can cope least, the vulnerable, the disadvantaged. You can’t help them if they aren’t there."