Deputy Head of Junior School

Wellbeing

What is wellbeing? Professor Donna Cross has explained that wellbeing is an outcome. It is a product of, or is enhanced by, an effective pastoral care system. It is "… a person's ability to consciously manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and demonstrate compassion towards others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions." Wellbeing involves an individual developing a sense of self-efficacy and self-worth, a sense of social connectedness, and a belief in (and the skills necessary to ensure) good physical, mental and spiritual health in them and those around them. Central to all of this is a sense of agency; that the individual believes he or she has a degree of control over his or her life and has the strength of character to deal with difficulties and overcome challenges.

This year, the staff have been working collectively to establish what wellbeing looks, feel and sounds like in the Junior School. Class and specialist teachers have been implementing and trialling a range of activities with your boys, such as relaxation sessions, gratitude tasks, brain break ideas, breathing exercises along with established practices from last year, such as, class meetings and circle time sessions.

The Junior School staff are implementing and trialling ideas in order to build a repertoire of activities to engage young minds. This has also been fed back to the Junior School wellbeing committee who are working in consultation with the Director of Staff and Student Wellbeing, Mr James Hindle.

Whilst in a trial phase, we are still noticing small reductions of behavioural incidents, and increased awareness in the staff in identifying when calming activities benefit the learning intentions of the classroom. We look forward to gaining greater insight into the positive impact of wellbeing activities into the Junior School classrooms.

Miss Penny Hooper
Deputy Head of Junior School (Administration and Pastoral Care)