“No Child Should Have To Break Down Before Adults Listen”
Cllr Rowland O’Connor backs a motion for a formal review into mental health and wellbeing in Cornwall’s schools, warning in an emotional chamber speech that vulnerable children and SEND families are being failed by a system that is “breaking children rather than supporting them.”
Councillor Rowland O’Connor has spoken in strong support of a motion brought before Cornwall Council calling for a formal review into mental health and wellbeing in schools, warning that vulnerable children and SEND families are increasingly being failed by a system that is “breaking children rather than supporting them.”
The motion, debated at Full Council on 19 May 2026, seeks the creation of an informal Cabinet Advisory Group to examine the relationship between school environments, behaviour systems, mental health, exclusion, emotional wellbeing and SEND pressures across Cornwall.
In a hard-hitting and deeply personal speech to chamber, Cllr O’Connor spoke on behalf of families, teaching staff and children who feel unheard or overwhelmed by current educational pressures.
“Some children are not failing the system — the system is failing them so completely that they no longer feel safe enough to walk through the school gates.”
He also warned that emotional distress in schools could no longer be dismissed as isolated behavioural problems:
“Sometimes behaviour is not defiance. Sometimes behaviour is distress. Sometimes behaviour is trauma.”
The speech drew attention to the experiences of SEND families, emotionally overwhelmed children, exhausted teaching staff and frontline support workers, while stressing that the motion was not an attack on schools or teachers.
Instead, Cllr O’Connor argued that Cornwall has a moral duty to honestly examine whether parts of the current system are unintentionally harming vulnerable young people.
The motion itself references growing concern around suspensions, exclusions, attendance pressures and emotional wellbeing, alongside the rights of children under Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Council briefing papers accompanying the motion also acknowledge the links between mental health, attendance, behaviour, exclusions and SEND pressures.
Cllr O’Connor concluded his speech with a line likely to resonate strongly with families across Cornwall:
“No child should ever have to break down in order for adults to finally start listening.”
The motion was supported by a cross-party group of councillors and aims to strengthen engagement with schools, families, children and frontline services while examining the wider emotional wellbeing impact of current educational approaches in Cornwall.
Notes to Editors
- Motion: “Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools” — Cornwall Council Full Council, 19 May 2026.
- Purpose: To establish an informal Cabinet Advisory Group examining mental health, emotional wellbeing, inclusion, behaviour systems and related SEND pressures in Cornwall schools.
- Cornwall Council briefing papers note existing links between mental health and wellbeing, attendance and engagement, suspensions and exclusions, and SEND and inclusion pressures.
Media Contact
CING Media Office
e: cllr.rowland.oconnor@cornwall.gov.uk
t: +44 (0)7732 079611
w: https://www.cingparty.uk