Development of measurements of well-being at municipal primary and lower secondary schools

A specific measure in the recent reform of primary and lower secondary school in Denmark was to improve well-being at schools, as we know education is connected with well-being. This requires a national measurement of well-being to provide a true view of the well-being of pupils in Danish schools. Even though an increasing number of surveys are being carried out on the well-being of pupils, there is only scarce knowledge about the validity of the questionnaires being used. On the basis of a pilot survey, the Danish National Centre for Social Research has developed, tested and validated a selection of questions to form the basis for a questionnaire for compulsory national well-being measurements at municipal primary and lower secondary schools. The pilot survey was carried out on the basis of a sample consisting of 1,500 pupils. On the basis of the pilot survey, researchers have prepared 15 questions which can be understood and responded to with the same understanding by all pupils, regardless of age, gender and ethnicity. This is vital to obtain a true view of the well-being of Danish pupils. The well-being measurement could provide a snapshot of the current well-being of students in Danish primary and lower secondary schools and help identify any problems with well-being. Measurements cannot identify how to improve well-being. The pilot survey was commissioned and financed by the Danish Ministry of Education.