International Schools Prioritise Student and Staff Wellbeing
Why Wellbeing is Now a Prority
Parents across key international markets are driving this shift. In Singapore, families are choosing schools for their community and culture, while in India, many are rejecting high-pressure academic models. At the same time, governments in China, the UK, and the UAE are embedding wellbeing standards into national education frameworks, shaping how schools allocate resources and set priorities.
For school leaders, this means wellbeing is no longer simply a matter of pastoral care. It’s a competitive and compliance issue that influences reputation, enrolment, and staff retention.
The Three Interconnected Wellbeing Challenges
ISC Research identifies three major, interlinked wellbeing challenges facing international schools:
Student mobility: Frequent relocations disrupt friendships and continuity of learning. Students often arrive with differing levels of English proficiency and cultural expectations, requiring tailored support to settle and thrive.
Staff stress and burnout: Teachers in international settings juggle wide-ranging responsibilities, from academic delivery to extracurricular and pastoral care, often without sufficient recognition or structural support.
Academic pressure: High-stakes curricula and assessments heighten stress for students and staff alike, while fixed delivery deadlines can make it difficult to integrate wellbeing practices into everyday teaching.
The report emphasises that professional wellbeing must be a structural foundation of effective international education, not an afterthought.
Examples of how Schools Integrate Wellbeing Into Daily Life
The white paper shares examples of schools successfully integrating wellbeing into every day life.
At Light International School Mombasa, Principal Ildar Iliazov transformed the school’s wellbeing culture by engaging the entire community. What began as isolated wellbeing activities evolved into a comprehensive, whole-school strategy involving parent advisory boards, peer mentoring across age groups, and teacher training to model healthy wellbeing behaviours.
“We can’t just import models from elsewhere,” Iliazov explains. “A wellbeing strategy has to reflect the values of the community to be accepted and effective.”
Similarly, Transylvania College recognised the importance of data in guiding its wellbeing strategy. Partnering with Spark Generation, the school introduced regular surveys and short “pulse checks” across six wellbeing domains, supported by clear dashboards for leadership teams.
“If we don’t measure wellbeing, we’re just making assumptions,” says Florina Popîrțac, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Spark Generation. “Data gives us the clarity to know what’s working and where the gaps are.”
The Benefits of Embedding Wellbeing in Education
ISC Research’s findings highlight that schools embedding wellbeing as a structural foundation, through culture, curriculum, and data achieve tangible benefits. These include stronger staff retention, improved student outcomes, and a more resilient, cohesive school community.
Moreover, a visible commitment to wellbeing can enhance a school’s market reputation in an increasingly competitive global sector. Prospective parents and staff are actively seeking schools that foster balance, inclusion, and personal growth alongside academic excellence.
The report concludes that the conversation is no longer about whether to prioritise wellbeing, but how to do it effectively and sustainably. Schools that approach wellbeing strategically, aligning it with data, culture, and leadership, are best positioned to thrive in the next decade of international education.
Read the Full ISC Research White Paper
For detailed insights and case studies, download the report here:
