Page Contents
Introduction
The My Health My School Survey is offered to all state funded schools and colleges in East Sussex. The survey is an opportunity for children and young people to share their views and experiences of school and their health and wellbeing. It was first conducted in East Sussex during the 2020-2021 academic year and has since been carried out annually to monitor the health and wellbeing of children and young people. In 2024 – 2025, 15,139 children and young people across East Sussex completed the survey.
This page presents findings from the 2024-2025 My Health My School survey and explores inequalities in health, wellbeing and risk-taking behaviours among children and young people in East Sussex. The analysis compares outcomes across a range of population groups, including free school meal eligibility, disability, care experience, gender identity, sexual orientation and ethnicity, to identify where the greatest disparities exist. By highlighting differences in children and young people’s experiences, behaviours and wellbeing, this analysis helps identify local needs, inform service planning, and support action to reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes for all children and young people.
Summary of findings
Inequalities are greatest among secondary students compared to primary students. However, data for primary students are more limited due to smaller numbers and because primary students only answer a selection of questions.
Vulnerable student groups are consistently less likely to report positive health behaviours (including healthy diet and physical activity), and more likely to experience poorer wellbeing, higher levels of bullying, and increased engagement in risky behaviours.
For primary students, the most consistent and largest gaps are seen among students who are eligible for free school meals. They consistently experience poorer outcomes across the widest range of indicators, including physical activity, diet, wellbeing and bullying.
The most consistent and largest gaps for secondary students are seen among ‘children we care for’ and students identifying as another gender.
Among secondary students, children we care for report particularly high levels of smoking, alcohol use, vaping and drug use.
Secondary students identifying as ‘another gender’ consistently report poorer outcomes across multiple domains, including wellbeing, physical activity, bullying and risky behaviours.
Secondary boys generally report more favourable outcomes for wellbeing and physical activity; however, they are more likely than secondary girls to engage in certain risky behaviours (more likely to drink alcohol regularly, smoke regularly and have ever taken drugs).
Indicators included in the analysis
Indicators were selected to represent key areas of physical health, healthy eating, emotional wellbeing and risk-taking behaviours among children and young people in East Sussex.
For primary students, a total of four indicators were explored:
- Physically active for at least 1 hour on most days
- No fruit or vegetables on a normal school day
- How much do you agree with statement ‘I enjoy my life’?
- Experienced bullying in or around school most days or every day
For secondary students, a total of eight indicators were explored (the four indicators described above, plus four additional indicators relating to risky behaviours:
- Regular smoker (at least once a week)
- Regular alcohol consumption (at least once a week)
- Regularly vapes (at least once a week)
- Have ever used drugs (even once)
Separate analyses were conducted for primary and secondary students, as risk behaviour indicators were only collected for secondary-aged pupils.
Only statistically significant differences at the 95% confidence level are shown.
Primary
Among primary school students, the largest and most consistent inequalities are seen among pupils eligible for free school meals, who report lower wellbeing, less healthy behaviours and higher levels of bullying than students who were not eligible for free school meals.
FSM eligible students
Almost one quarter of primary students (24%; 811 of 3,390) were eligible for free school meals.
Key message: Students eligible for free school meals reported lower wellbeing, less healthy behaviours and higher levels of bullying.
Secondary
Among secondary school students, the greatest inequalities are observed among children we care for and students identifying as another gender, who consistently report poorer wellbeing, higher rates of bullying, and higher levels of risky behaviours.
Children we care for
Among secondary students, 85 respondents (1%) were identified as ‘children we care for’. This group was defined as students who reported living in a children’s home or with foster carer(s) when asked where they live most of the time.
Key message: Children we care for experienced the largest inequalities across all indicators and reported particularly high levels of bullying and risky behaviours.
Disability
Among secondary students, 12% (1,012 of 8,340) considered themselves to be disabled.
Key message: Disabled students experienced inequalities across all indicators, particularly for wellbeing and bullying.
FSM eligible students
Among secondary students, 16% (1,308 of 8,304) were eligible for free school meals.
Key message: Students eligible for free school meals experienced widespread inequalities across health, wellbeing and risky behaviours.
No statistically significant difference for regularly drinking alcohol – FSM (6%) and not eligible for FSM (5%).
LGB+
Among secondary students, 15% (1,173 of 8,011) identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or another sexual identity.
Key message: LGB+ students reported poorer wellbeing, higher levels of bullying and greater engagement in risky behaviours.
Gender Identity
Among secondary students, 2.4% (212 of 8,663) identified as another gender, while 49.5% identified as boys and 48.1% identified as girls.
Key message: Students identifying as another gender experience inequalities in all areas, including wellbeing, physical activity, bullying and risky behaviours.
Note: Another gender is a combination of students who answered ‘Non-binary’ or ‘I would describe my gender in some other way’.
Boys and Girls
Just over half of secondary students identified as boys (51%), while 49% identified as girls.
Key message: Girls reported poorer wellbeing, while boys were more likely to report lower levels of healthy eating and engage in some risky behaviours, including smoking, alcohol and drug use.
There was no statistically significant difference in regular vaping between boys (7%) and girls (7%).
Ethnicity
Among secondary students, most students identified as White (84%; 7,044 of 8,369). Smaller proportions identified as Mixed (6%; 476), Asian (4%; 367), Other ethnic group (3%; 291) and Black (2%; 191).
- Asian students were less active (71% vs 79% White) and more likely to eat no fruit or vegetables (12% vs 7% White).
- Other ethnicity students reported poorer wellbeing (53% vs 64% White) and higher levels of bullying (15% vs 5% White).
- Smoking, alcohol, vaping and drug use were generally highest among Other ethnicity students (smoking 14%, alcohol 18%, vaping 21%, drugs 24%).
- Black and Asian students were more likely than White students to report bullying, smoking, vaping and drug use.
- Mixed ethnicity students were more likely to eat 5+ portions of fruit and vegetables daily (31% vs 25% White).
Key message: Inequalities between ethnic groups were evident, particularly in relation to bullying, diet and some risk-taking behaviours.
The ‘Other ethnic group’ category includes Arab (n=68), Chinese (n=11), Gypsy Traveller (n=64) and Other ethnic group (n=148).