North Yorkshire schools’ responses to pupil bereavement

Abstract

This was a research project carried out in North Yorkshire schools by the loss and bereavement research group of the Educational Psychology Service. The background was an interest in how schools responded to bereaved pupils, whether they had a structured response, trained staff and training needs, from where they sought support and the level of priority given to the area. All three hundred and fifty-three of the county’s primary, secondary and special schools were surveyed by electronic questionnaire and seventy-two, 20%, responded. Parental bereavement was rated relatively highly, although most schools sought outside help after a parental death, a need for training was expressed and there were no consistent support or referral pathways. Schools tended to have an ad hoc response, few had policies, procedures or governors actively involved in the area. Loss was addressed in the curriculum by a third of schools, and a similar number had received training. Schools did not always have a clear understanding of the implications of pupil loss generally with and a narrow view of loss. Recommendations included an increase in training, taking a wider view of loss and having clear referral pathways. Ideas for further areas of research included looking in more detail at schools systems in the area of loss and bereavement.

Keywords:

• schools
• death
• pupil bereavement
• loss

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the schools who responded to the questionnaire, the Principal Educational Psychologist, Leading Educational Psychologist, East Team Leader, members of the R&D group and our colleagues for their encouragement and support. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of our colleagues or of the Educational Psychology Service.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

Research through the North Yorkshire County Council Educational Psychology Loss and Bereavement Research and Development Group.