Research by Bukhman Philanthropies and I.G. Advisors reveals a silent crisis in London schools and urges an overhaul of the accountability system to prioritise student wellbeing
Bukhman Philanthropies, in partnership with global strategy consultancy, I.G. Advisors, today publishes The Accountability Gap: A Case for Wellbeing in London’s Schools - a landmark report exposing a systemic failure to prioritise student mental wellbeing in the education system.
Launched during Children’s Mental Health Week, the report reveals that student wellbeing is routinely sidelined in favour of academic outcomes, forcing schools (particularly in deprived areas) into impossible trade-offs that leave vulnerable young people without essential support.
Key Findings: A System Under Strain
The report, based on robust landscape analysis and expert consultations, identifies four critical barriers to student wellbeing:
- Systemic sidelining of wellbeing: Student wellbeing is treated as secondary to academic attainment, especially in schools facing deprivation and resource constraints.
- Inequitable impact: The most vulnerable young people – including Black girls, those living in poverty, and students with SEND – are disproportionately left behind.
- Fragmented funding: Funding is often short-term, crisis-driven, and poorly coordinated, with limited investment in early intervention and preventative support.
- Accountability mismatch: The current Ofsted framework does not adequately measure or incentivise student wellbeing, creating a structural barrier to prioritising mental health in schools.
The cost of inaction is profound. Children and young people lack access to timely wellbeing support; schools and delivery organisations are underfunded and overstretched; and a lack of collaboration across sectors undermines effective, joined-up care.
While targeted interventions and evidence-based programmes are essential, the report concludes that lasting change requires systemic reform of the school accountability framework.
Our Call: Redefine Success
To ensure that student wellbeing is treated as a non-negotiable foundation for learning, the report urges policymakers to:
- Integrate wellbeing into the Ofsted framework as a core, weighted indicator of school success, on par with academic attainment.
- Embed wellbeing and mental health within the national curriculum and school assessment practices.
- Pilot new inspection criteria in select London boroughs that balance academic and wellbeing outcomes.
- Convene cross-sector stakeholders – including young people – to co-design effective, equitable measurement tools and support systems.
A child who feels safe, connected, and has a sense of belonging is ready to learn, thrive, and contribute.
“This report makes clear that we cannot address the youth mental health crisis without reshaping the systems that shape young people’s daily lives. We urge policymakers, educators, and funders to join us in redefining what success looks like in education,” Daria Bukhman (Co-Founder and Chair of Bukhman Philanthropies).
Download the Report
The Accountability Gap: A Case for Wellbeing in London’s Schools is available to download here.
Report Enquiries
For interview requests or further information, please contact: Harriette (Advisor at I.G. Advisors) at harriette@ig-advisors.com