“Not even Manchester United are this bad” High-profile peer savages UK record on pupil wellbeing
18 September 2025

Ruben Amorim is having a tough time as manager of Manchester United. But even his team has a better league table position than does the UK on pupil wellbeing, the House of Lords was told this week. Pic: Alamy.
Cross-bench peer Lord O'Donnell highlights damning statistics from international testing study, in calling for national wellbeing measurement in schools. But government rejects the move, partly on grounds of cost.
Baroness (Amanda) Spielman, the former chief inspector, argues against the proposed new measure, stating: "We should not collect data by constantly asking children who are not unwell about their wellbeing."

Ruben Amorim is having a tough time as manager of Manchester United. But even his team has a better league table position than does the UK on pupil wellbeing, the House of Lords was told this week. Pic: Alamy.
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