Schools trial VR headsets to help pupils manage stress
Updated
Updated · The Independent · May 4
Schools trial VR headsets to help pupils manage stress
12 articles · Updated · The Independent · May 4
All 15 secondary schools in Sutton, London, are testing Phase Space’s seven-minute programme; co-creator Zillah Watson said 90% of users in the first 10 schools saw immediate stress reduction.
The headsets are used for exam anxiety, ADHD and distress linked to home or school disruption, aiming to calm pupils, rebuild confidence and help them return to lessons.
Staff at Ark Academy said pupils are calmer and leave fewer lessons after using VR, while the scheme is seen as a potentially low-cost support alongside NHS adolescent mental health services.
As VR headsets enter classrooms, are we teaching students to cope or just to escape?
With AI personalizing VR therapy, what are the unforeseen risks for adolescent mental health?
The Promise and Pitfalls of VR Wellbeing Programs in London Schools Amid a Youth Mental Health Crisis
Overview
London's VR wellbeing trials (2025-2026) emerged as a response to a worsening youth mental health crisis intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and deepening educational inequalities. Teacher burnout and stress further shaped the need for innovative support. These trials used immersive VR to help students manage stress, aligning with a growing European VR education market and projects addressing teacher wellbeing. While VR showed promising short-term stress reduction and high engagement, high costs and health concerns created barriers, risking increased inequality. Overloaded mental health services made VR a compelling option, but long-term effects, equitable access, and ethical safeguards remain critical challenges for scaling these solutions.