Project Overview

The OxWell Student Survey is an online study that measures the wellbeing of children and young people aged 9–18 years old, allowing us to learn about the many interconnected factors that might be influencing their health and happiness.

The survey is a collaboration between young people, local authorities, schools/colleges, the NHS and the OxWell Study Team at the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry.

OxWell aims to promote better understanding of the mental health and wellbeing of school/college students by:

• Asking pupils about their worries and how they may like to receive support
• Providing schools and services with information about what young people want and need
• Supporting positive change by providing insights about young people’s lives

The findings are used at local, school and national levels to help improve services, guide planning and inform policies that put young people’s voices at the heart of decision-making.

OxWell 2025 – A streamlined survey for Oxfordshire and Liverpool

In 2025, the OxWell survey was delivered in a shorter, more accessible format to support school participation while still gathering meaningful insights. This updated version took around 15 minutes to complete and was rolled out in education settings across Oxfordshire and Liverpool.

There were two versions of the survey:

• One for pupils in Years 5–6
• One for students in Years 7–13, including Sixth Form and Further Education

The 2025 version asked young people about:

• Mental wellbeing and anxiety
• Lifestyle and sleep patterns
• Relationships with peers and school experiences
• Online activity and safety
• Attitudes toward and access to mental health support
• Healthy behaviours like exercise and eating well
• The worries they face and how they would like to be supported