Challenging Common Myths About Body Respect in Schools

When we talk to schools about embedding body respect in their culture, we often hear the same three things:

“We’re too busy.”
“It’s not really an issue in our school.”
“It’s not relevant.”

And we completely understand why. Schools are under extraordinary pressure. Teachers are often stretched, pastoral teams are often firefighting, and leadership staff are often juggling competing priorities.

But here’s the truth: these aren’t reasons to avoid body respect work. They’re the very reasons it’s needed.

“We’re too busy.”

The Body Happy Schools Programme isn’t about adding more to an already overflowing plate - it’s about making what you’re already doing work better.

It gives staff a shared language, an evidence-based framework, and practical tools to embed body respect across PSHE, safeguarding, behaviour, and wellbeing. This helps reduce duplication and strengthens consistency across your school’s existing priorities.

A peer advocate mentoring session in action with Year 10 students at All Saints Academy Plymouth

When schools build a shared understanding of body image and appearance-based stigma, staff feel more confident and supported in responding to the issues that come up day-to-day – from playground comments to pastoral concerns. That means fewer reactive issues to manage, more confident staff, and a healthier school culture over time.

Our pilot schools tell us that this approach actually reduces workload, because teachers spend less time firefighting appearance-related conflict and more time teaching.

“It’s not really an issue in our school.”

It’s easy to assume that if you’re not seeing it, it’s not there. But body image concerns often show up quietly – in avoidance, disengagement, anxiety, or self-criticism – long before they’re visible in behaviour, attendance, or attainment.

Multiple sources of national data show that more than half of young people feel negatively about their body. That impacts confidence, concentration, participation, safeguarding, and wellbeing.

No school is immune. Every child deserves an environment that protects them from appearance-based stigma and supports a healthy, respectful relationship with their body.

When schools address this proactively, the ripple effects are significant – from improved self-esteem and inclusion, to stronger engagement and belonging.

“It’s not relevant.”

Body respect isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’ wellbeing topic – it sits at the heart of everything schools are asked to do.

From promoting equality and inclusion, to meeting RSHE and PSHE curriculum requirements, to supporting personal development, safeguarding, and mental health – body respect connects it all.

It’s not about introducing a whole new initiative. It’s about applying a body image harm-reduction lens to the things schools already do – creating alignment, coherence, and shared purpose across staff teams.

Designed for busy schools

The Body Happy Schools Programme was designed for busy schools.

It offers in-person delivery options, ready-made resources, and ongoing support. We don’t expect schools to become experts overnight – we partner with them to embed long-term, sustainable change.

When staff, students, and parents work together within a shared framework of body respect, schools see powerful culture shifts: fewer appearance-related incidents, more inclusive practice, and pupils who feel seen, valued, and confident.

Creating classroom cultures of body respect

At The Body Happy Organisation, we believe that creating classroom cultures of body respect is central to inclusion, wellbeing, and educational equality.

It’s not an optional extra. It’s part of how we build environments where every child can thrive.

If your school wants to build confidence, reduce stigma, and strengthen inclusion – we’re here to help you do exactly that.

Email us to find out how we can support you: hello@bodyhappyorg.com