Schools should keep checking up on former students when they are at university, leading headmaster says

Schools should continue to check up on former students once they have gone to university, a leading headmaster has said.

Stephen Lehec, headmaster of the £18,000-a-year Kingston Grammar School, said that universities spend a lot of time talking about their mental health provisions, and investing millions of pounds on various initiatives.

However, many are merely paying “lip service” to student wellbeing, and waste money on “gimmicks” like therapy dogs, he said.

Mr Lehec said that staff at his school keep in touch with alumni after the leave, and continue to offer them counselling or advice once they start university.

 “Some universities offer excellent support but most of the rest pay lip-service to student wellbeing,” he told The Telegraph.

 “Gimmicks like a therapy dogs and other animals at exam time do not address the real problems faced by many students.  

 “Vulnerable students need access to joined-up, high-quality support throughout their academic career – and especially in their first year, which many may find disorientating and isolating.”

He said that other schools should also keep in touch with former pupils, adding that “it is not a huge effort just to send out an email” and ask how they are getting on.

 “We stay in contact with all of our ex-students, particularly in their first term at university, to see how they are doing and follow up with support. If they need help, we help them get it,” he said.

 Mr Lehec explained how it can be disorientating for 18-year-olds to go from a system where “everyone knows everything about them, and information is shared openly”, to one where people know “virtually nothing” about them unless they choose to mention it.

 Mr Lehec said that Ucas should change their systems so that it becomes the norm for students to talk about what support they may need.

Kingston Grammar School was founded by Royal Charter in 1561 but can trace its roots back to at least the 13th century.  

Its alumni include Edward Gibbon, author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Earlier this month, the universities minister told vice-Chancellors that they must “prioritise” the mental health and well-being of new students, adding that this requires “leadership from the top”.

In a letter sent to all vice-Chancellors in the country ahead of students’ return to university for the start of a new term, Sam Gyimah warned that there is “no negotiation” when it comes to mental health.

“With the new academic year upon us, I’m sure you would agree that good mental health and wellbeing underpins successful participation and attainment,” he said.  

“Collectively, we must prioritise the wellbeing and mental health of our students – there is no negotiation on this. To make this happen, leadership from the top is essential.”  

A spokesperson for Universities UK said: “Universities take seriously their duty of care to students and staff. We are proud of the work done by student support and welfare services around the country.

“But we know that universities cannot address these complex challenges alone. In particular, we are working to improve the links with local health services.”