Using Peer Support to Meet Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework

The revised Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (EIF), effective from November 2025, places personal development and wellbeing at the heart of inspection, setting clear expectations for meaningful, whole-school strategies that go beyond compliance or “tick-box” activities (Ofsted, 2025). Peer support is central to this shift—schools are now asked to evidence how they equip every pupil with emotional, social, and moral skills that empower them to thrive in and beyond the classroom.

The Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme is an established peer support initiative, developed over 11 years in partnership with schools, CAMHS, and local authorities. Delivered in over 200 UK schools, through its design and delivery, it explicitly meets Ofsted’s evolving requirements by embedding sustainable, student-led support at the core of school culture of wellbeing.

What is Peer Support and How Does it Support School Wellbeing?

Peer support is a structured approach where students provide emotional, social, and practical support to their peers, helping to create a safe and inclusive school environment. By empowering students to take on roles as peer supporters, schools foster a sense of belonging and connection, which are critical for positive mental health outcomes. Peer support initiatives leverage the natural understanding and relatability among students to address challenges such as anxiety, loneliness, and stress.

This approach supports school wellbeing by promoting a whole-school culture of care and resilience. It encourages positive relationships, builds student confidence, and cultivates essential life skills like empathy and active listening. Additionally, peer support draws on evidence-based frameworks of Positive Education and Coaching, which emphasise prevention and peer-led strategies.

When implemented effectively, peer support not only reduces the pressure on pastoral and safeguarding staff but also enhances student engagement and improves overall wellbeing across the school community.

Personal Development & Wellbeing: Peer Support at the Core

Ofsted’s refreshed EIF treats Personal Development and Wellbeing as a principal domain (Ofsted, 2025). Inspectors now ask:

• How do leaders promote students' resilience, wellbeing, and positive character?
• Are students equipped via structured opportunities to build adaptive skills, confidence, and supportive relationships?
• Can the school demonstrate authentic evidence—beyond policy—that students are developing the competencies to manage setbacks, transitions, and wellbeing challenges?

Peer support is a key form of evidence. The Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme empowers young people to become trained wellbeing leaders. Ambassadors run workshops, clubs, and campaigns, normalising help-seeking and modelling coping strategies. Their activities yield concrete inspection-ready evidence—pupil voice logs, feedback from peers, and case studies showing the impact on engagement and self-esteem.

“Students are feeling more comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences, leading to more authentic connections and support networks” ‍

(The King’s School Chester).

Inclusion, Belonging, and SEND

The EIF expects schools to proactively reduce participation barriers, especially for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND (Ofsted, 2025). The Wellbeing Ambassadors model champions this approach:

• Buddy systems, peer menorting and lunchtime clubs help new and vulnerable students build connections.
• Ambassadors collect and amplify diverse pupil voices—including those less likely to speak up.
• The programme’s flexibility means all schools, regardless of context, can deliver inclusive peer support.

Case studies report marked increases in engagement for SEND pupils, including greater attendance at wellbeing clubs and improved confidence.

Resilience and Character in Action

Resilience, while not named directly in every inspection criterion, is embedded throughout Ofsted’s framework for Personal Development and Wellbeing. Through peer-led workshops, assemblies, and role-modelling, Wellbeing Ambassadors actively teach strategies for stress management, emotional regulation, and positive coping.

“Training and practising as a wellbeing ambassador has really improved my self-confidence, mental wellbeing, and positivity...”

(Wellbeing Ambassador Student, as cited in Worth-it CIC Impact Report, 2021, p. 18).

Inspection evidence may include:

• Surveys or follow-up interviews with mentees/peers.
• Records of ambassador-led sessions on resilience and wellbeing.
• Proxy data taken from school systems for tracking improved behaviour, engagement, and attendance.
• Self-report measures or pupil interviews/focus groups on growth to personal confidence or character.

Leadership and Cultural Change

Ofsted’s framework stresses that senior leaders must integrate wellbeing into a whole-school strategy—inspectorate focus is now on how intent is implemented and the impact demonstrated (Ofsted, 2024). The Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme provides structured tools and reporting templates so pastoral and SLT teams can monitor outcomes, reflect on service delivery, and continuously improve.

“It has given a solid and permanent base for mental health support.”

(School Staff, as cited in Worth-it CIC, 2021)

Regular ambassador feedback loops, action plans tied to SLT priorities, and participation in policy discussions offer direct, authentic evidence for governance and inspection.

Peer Support: Meeting and Evidencing Ofsted Requirements

The Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme has been co-produced with school partners, CAMHS, and local authorities, is built to deliver inspection-ready, peer-led evidence across:

• Personal Development & Wellbeing: Tracked via sessions, logs, case studies, and feedback.
• Inclusion & SEND: Documented participation of disadvantaged and SEND pupils.
• Leadership & Culture: Monitored through pupil-led action plans, SLT and governor reports, and a demonstrable, sustainable impact on school ethos.

“The work of our ambassadors has had a hugely positive effect and has genuinely made a difference to young lives. They’ve become a well-known and significant group and cause in the school community”

(School Support Leader, as cited in Worth-it CIC, Impact Report 2021)

Take the Next Step:

Empower your students and deliver on Ofsted’s strategic priorities by embedding whole-school, peer-led wellbeing today. To learn more about how our Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme can help you gather the right evidence for inspections, [join our free workshop] or get in touch for a tailored discussion.

Discover how the Wellbeing Ambassadors Programme has transformed schools supporting wellbeing and fostering peer-led support networks. Download our Impact Report to see the evidence for yourself, or contact us today to find out more about joining the programme and taking the first step toward creating a positive, whole-school approach to perosnal development and wellbeing.

Sign Up for Our Live Workshop

What Ofsted Expects from Peer Support — And How Schools Are Delivering It
Date: February 10th
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Join us for an engaging, evidence-based workshop designed to equip schools with the knowledge and strategies needed to meet Ofsted's expectations for peer support programs. Discover how to implement successful peer-led initiatives that enhance student well-being and align with inspection frameworks.

Key Takeaways:

• Understand Ofsted’s requirements for peer support in schools.
• Explore practical examples of effective peer-led programs.
• Learn how to evaluate and evidence positive outcomes.
• Gain actionable insights to improve student mental health and engagement.

This workshop is perfect for Senior Mental Health Leads, pastoral staff, and school leaders looking to strengthen their approach to student well-being.

Spaces are limited—sign up here to secure your place and take the next step toward building a thriving, supportive school community!

References

Ofsted. (2024). Education inspection framework: Overview and guidance for inspectors.
Worth-it Positive Education CIC. (2021). Wellbeing Ambassadors Impact Report.
Worth-it Positive Education CIC. (2023). Wellbeing Ambassadors: 3 Years of Impact at King's School.