The Student Health and Wellbeing (SHW) survey is carried out by the School Health Research Network (SHRN). Established in 2013, SHRN brings together secondary schools and academic researchers, policymakers and practitioners from health, education, and social care to improve young people’s health and wellbeing in the school setting. It is a partnership between the Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity, and Implementation in Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer) at Cardiff University, Welsh Government, and Public Health Wales, funded by Welsh Government.

The SHW survey is a biennial cross-sectional survey administered to 11–16-year-olds attending SHRN member schools and was developed from the World Health Organisation’s Health Behaviour in School aged Children (HBSC) survey. The survey is completed alongside a School Environment Questionnaire (SEQ), which all participating schools must complete on their health policies and practices.

The SHW survey provides in-depth understanding of the health and wellbeing of young people. Content includes mental health and wellbeing, substance use and gambling, physical activity and diet, school life, family and social life, and relationships.