Schools need to support ex-pupils at university, says headmaster

SCHOOLS should continue to check on former pupils once they have gone to university, a 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 merely pay “lip service” to the concept and money on “gimmicks”, he said.

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

“Some universities offer excellent support but most of the rest pay lipservice to student well-being,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.

“Gimmicks like therapy dogs and other animals at exam time do not ad- waste dress the real problems faced by many students. Vulnerable students need access to joined-up, high-quality support throughout their academic career – especially in their first year, which many may find disorientating and isolating.”

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

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.

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

Earlier this month, Sam Gyimah, the universities minister, wrote to vicechancellors to say they must “prioritise” the mental health and well-being of new students, adding that this required “leadership from the top”.

A spokesman 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. But we know that universities cannot address these complex challenges alone.

“In particular, we are working to improve links with local health services.”