Wealden Times | WT265 | June 2024 | Education Supplement inside

sponsors The Priceless Education Supplement
Happy to Learn
We speak to schools about their approach to the all-important subject of wellbeing
Fostering Wellbeing at Ashford School:
Nurturing Children from Nursery to 18
An unfortunate confluence of rapid cultural, technological and
social change has contributed to a widespread sense of unease and
tension in teenagers. Younger children also seem to be showing
increased amounts of low-level discontent. All-through settings,
like Ashford School, have a particular insight into childhood
wellbeing because we educate children from nursery to sixth form.
Our reputation for academic excellence and for producing
charming and articulate young adults depends on having pupils
who are in the right frame of mind to learn. Understanding the
causes of mental stress increasingly depends on our expertise,
not just in education, but in wellbeing and mental resilience.
In response to the growing demand for mental health support,
many schools, including Ashford School, have invested in
the people and spaces to provide comprehensive support and
intervention strategies for pupils. Recognising the connection
between academic success and emotional wellbeing, some schools
have implemented programmes that prioritise mental health within
the curriculum and also as part of their co-curricular activities.
From the integration of mindfulness practices and emotional
intelligence workshops, to the establishment of dedicated
counselling services and peer support networks, schools have
to start actively fostering a culture of empathy, resilience and
self-care. By nurturing positive relationships and creating
safe spaces for expression, educators and mental health
professionals alike are empowering students to navigate the
complexities of adolescence with confidence and resilience.
The ultimate goal of wellbeing provision in schools is to cultivate
a generation of happier, healthier, and more resilient individuals
who are equipped to thrive academically and socially. By addressing
the root causes of anxiety and fostering a supportive system of care,
schools and families can help make positive outcomes that extend far
beyond the classroom and boost academic results. ashfordschool.co.uk
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Happy Children and Academic Success go Hand in Hand
at Longacre School, Ben Moir, Interim Head explains
Longacre School is testament to the fact that happy children
achieve high levels of academic success. When Miss Ursula
Fairfax-Cholmeley founded the school in 1946, she created
the motto, ‘A happy heart goes all the way’. Over 75 years
on this is still very much part of the school’s ethos and proof
that happiness and academic success go ‘hand in hand’.
Happy children achieve more in the classroom due to several
interconnected factors that contribute to their overall wellbeing
and academic success. Most importantly, happiness creates a
positive mindset, which is conducive to learning and problemsolving.
When children are happy, they are more likely to
approach challenges with resilience and enthusiasm, rather than
with apprehension or fear of failure. At Longacre we regularly use
the acronym FAIL and ask the children to consider the concept
of failure as their ‘First Attempt In Learning’. We encourage the
children to learn from their mistakes by re-evaluating their previous
approach to the question, or the ideas and evidence they express.
Additionally, happy children often have stronger social
and emotional skills – essential for success both inside
and outside the classroom. They are more adept at
building relationships, collaborating with their peers and
communicating effectively with teachers, all of which are
conducive to a supportive learning environment.
With a masterful balancing of the curriculum, our confident
and aspirational children at Longacre make an additional thirtynine
months’ value added progress. A love of reading is crucial to
life-long success and is very much embedded in daily school life.
The relationship between happiness and academic achievement is
fundamental to our educational philosophy and how we approach
life at Longacre. By creating a supportive and nurturing environment
that prioritises the wellbeing of children, we also help ensure that all
children have the opportunity to thrive academically and personally.
Longacre School is a Co-Educational School taking children
between the ages of 2 and 11, based just five miles outside
Guildford, in Shamley Green. The school prides itself on happy
children, who are able to be the individuals they want to be.
The children have woods to explore, time to enjoy the fresh
air, and encouragement to get muddy. longacre.surrey.sch.
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