Outcome measures for school counselling — SDQ, YP-CORE, GAD-7, PHQ-A and WEMWBS compared
Schools, governors and funders increasingly ask counselling services to show impact. Standardised outcome measures are the most common way to do that — but choosing the wrong one, or using it badly, can frustrate pupils and produce misleading data. This guide compares the measures most often used in UK school counselling and sets out good practice.
It is general information. Check each measure's own documentation for administration rules, scoring and permitted use.
Why use outcome measures at all?
Used well, measures help to:
- give the pupil a voice in reviewing their own progress,
- flag risk or deterioration that might not come up in conversation,
- show the school the value of the service in aggregate, anonymised form.
Used badly, they can turn a session into a form-filling exercise. The measure should serve the work, not the other way round.
The common measures at a glance
| Measure | What it covers | Typical age range | Items | Points to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDQ (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire) | Emotional symptoms, conduct, hyperactivity, peer problems, prosocial behaviour | Versions for parents/teachers (2–17) and self-report (11–17) | 25 (+ impact supplement) | Copyright held by Youthinmind; check terms for electronic or commercial use |
| YP-CORE | General psychological distress | 11–16 | 10 | Free to use under CORE System Trust terms; don't alter wording |
| GAD-7 | Anxiety symptoms | Validated mainly in adults; used with older adolescents | 7 | Free to use; interpret with care in younger pupils |
| PHQ-9 / PHQ-A | Depressive symptoms (PHQ-A is the adolescent version) | PHQ-A: adolescents | 9 (+ items) | Free to use; includes an item on thoughts of self-harm that requires a planned response |
| WEMWBS / SWEMWBS | Mental wellbeing (positively worded) | 11 and over (not recommended under 11) | 14 (short: 7) | Licence required; reduced-cost licences for schools and other non-commercial organisations |
Other measures you may encounter include the Goal-Based Outcomes (GBO) tool, the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) and the Child Outcome Rating Scale (CORS).
Choosing the right measure
- Match the age. Use versions validated for the pupil's age. Adult tools used with younger children can give unreliable scores.
- Match the purpose. A distress measure (YP-CORE) tracks general change; a symptom measure (GAD-7, PHQ-A) tracks a specific problem; a strengths-and-difficulties measure (SDQ) gives a broader picture, often including teacher or parent views.
- Keep it light. One general measure at start and end, plus a short session-by-session measure if useful, is usually enough.
- Check the licence. Some measures are free; others require registration or a licence, especially in digital or commercial products. Always check the current terms with the copyright holder.
Handling risk items
Some measures, notably PHQ-9/PHQ-A, include an item about thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Before using them, agree how you will respond to a positive answer: reviewing it with the pupil in the same session, carrying out a risk assessment, and following your safeguarding procedure. Never leave a completed risk item unread until after the pupil has left.
Good practice when using scores
- Explain why you are asking the pupil to complete the measure and who will see the results.
- Review scores with the pupil, not just about them. "Your score has dropped since last month — does that match how you feel?" is often a useful conversation.
- Record the score, date and measure in your notes — see our guide on writing session notes.
- Report in aggregate to the school: numbers seen, average change, proportion showing reliable improvement — never individual scores that could identify a pupil.
- Don't over-interpret small changes. Use each measure's published guidance on clinically significant or reliable change where available.
How CounselNote helps
CounselNote records outcome-measure totals against each session and, in the Professional edition, shows trends over time and produces de-identified service reports for school leaders. You remain responsible for checking licensing terms for any measure you use. See the guide or try it free for 30 days.
Official sources
- Youthinmind, SDQ information
- CORE System Trust, YP-CORE
- Warwick Medical School, WEMWBS — using the scales
- Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) screeners, phqscreeners.com
- Child Outcomes Research Consortium, Outcome measures
This guide is general information for school counsellors and pastoral staff in the UK. It is not legal advice. Always follow your school's safeguarding, data protection and records policies, and take advice from your DSL, DPO or supervisor on individual cases.