Study: Present but Struggling? Understanding what school is like for students with long-term health conditions.
Run by: IELA (the Inclusion and Equity Leadership Association), part of Abitas Group.
Please read this before deciding whether to take part. You can take your time, and you can contact the research team with any questions before you begin.
What is the study about?
We want to understand what school was really like for people who had a long-term or chronic health condition, and whether the support around them actually helped. Your experience will help schools make support something students can find, trust and use, not just something that exists on paper.
Why have I been invited?
You have been invited because you are aged 18 or over, left school in the last few years, and had a long-term physical or mental health condition while you were at school. By "long-term or chronic condition" we mean anything that lasted a long time or kept coming back, for example asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, chronic pain or fatigue, an autoimmune condition, or a long-term mental health condition. You do not need a diagnosis, and you will never be asked to prove or name a specific condition.
Do I have to take part?
No. Taking part is completely voluntary. You can skip any question, take a break, or stop at any time, without giving a reason.
What will taking part involve?
Completing this anonymous survey (about 8 to 10 minutes) about your school experience, whether support was there and whether it helped, and how you felt about belonging and doing well. At the end, you can optionally leave an email address if you would be willing to take part in a short, confidential interview.
Are there any risks, and what if I find it upsetting?
Some questions ask you to think back on difficult experiences, which a few people may find upsetting. You only ever share what you are comfortable sharing. You can skip anything, pause, or stop. Support contacts are shown on the first page and again at the end. If anything brings up difficult feelings, please reach out to Samaritans (free, any time, on 116 123), text SHOUT to 85258, or contact your GP or student wellbeing service.
Confidentiality and your data
The survey is anonymous. We do not collect your name or identifying details unless you choose to give an email address for an interview. Your answers are stored securely and handled in line with UK GDPR and applicable data-protection law, kept only for as long as needed for the research, and used only for this study. Findings are reported in aggregate, with no one identifiable.
Withdrawing
You can stop at any time. Because your answers are anonymous, once you submit them we cannot find your responses to remove them.
What happens to the results?
Your voice will inform a short research report, a practical toolkit for schools, and a student voice summary, helping schools better support students like you.
Governance and contact
This study is being conducted under IELA's internal research governance. For any questions about the study, or about how your data is handled, contact Hafsa Mohammed at hafsa.mohammed@abitasgroup.com.