Background
Adolescence is a critical period of development which paves the way for longer term health trajectories and lifestyles. Understanding the variety of factors which influence adolescent health is crucial to developing interventions and services which have the potential to influence health across the life-course. Collecting representative, longitudinal data with adolescents at scale is difficult. Secondary school settings offer an excellent opportunity to collect such data with adolescents, however, there are inherent challenges in working with these settings. The Born in Bradford Age of Wonder (AoW) study aims to capture the health and wellbeing trajectories of up to 30,000 adolescents living in the diverse and multi-ethnic city of Bradford, UK.
Methods
This paper presents key challenges and associated lessons from the first three years of implementing the AoW programme across Bradford secondary schools. Challenges and lessons are described across seven thematic areas, with illustrative examples of how these learnings subsequently fed back into the programme design. These reflections later inform key recommendations to help guide future researchers.
Results
Notable challenges in implementing the research programme included collecting data for opt-in measures, providing tailored approaches for individual schools with differing facilities and needs, fitting data collection within school timings, and returning tangible value to schools and students in a responsive way. Key lessons included engaging schools as partners, enacting rigorous ethical processes and balancing flexibility with programme fidelity. Co-production and regular stakeholder engagement (including parents, teachers, students) ensured alignment between the programme delivery and local needs and priorities. Our recommendations describe successful implementation as a three-phased iterative process of preparation, implementation, and sustained engagement.
Conclusions
Conducting longitudinal health research in secondary schools is a highly dynamic and complex process. By embracing co-production, operational flexibility, and cohesive working practices, AoW offers a model for conducting large-scale research in UK secondary schools.
