Healthy minds, thriving learners

It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.
Sir Edmund Hillary

Wellbeing is fundamental to the success of both pupils and staff. Research consistently demonstrates a strong link between emotional wellbeing and academic performance, with students who feel supported mentally and emotionally demonstrating higher engagement, motivation, and achievement. The Children’s Society’s *Good Childhood Report* (2023) highlights the importance of nurturing supportive environments that address emotional health alongside learning.

At our school, wellbeing is not an add-on but central to our ethos. We provide structured opportunities for pupils to develop emotional literacy, mindfulness, and self-awareness. Physical activity, outdoor learning, creative expression, and strong peer relationships are encouraged, recognising that wellbeing is multi-dimensional. Pastoral teams work closely with staff and families to ensure pupils feel seen, supported, and empowered. That is not to say we shy away from challenge. Children need to face both challenges and risks in a secure environment, in order to know how to manage them outside of the LCS school gates.

Research shows that proactive interventions reduce stress and anxiety while increasing engagement and resilience, and our pastoral teams perform an effective balancing act of support and challenge, nuancing their responses child by child. Lessons in emotional regulation, restorative practices, and peer mentoring create a culture where pupils learn to manage challenges constructively and compassionately.

Family involvement is key to fostering wellbeing. Open dialogue, modelling healthy coping strategies, and maintaining realistic expectations help children internalise positive behaviours. Similarly, staff wellbeing is prioritised to ensure teachers are supported and able to model balance and resilience for pupils.

Wellbeing education not only improves learning outcomes but also cultivates empathy, emotional intelligence, and social responsibility. Pupils learn to value themselves and others, developing habits that will support their health and relationships throughout life.

By embedding wellbeing awareness into our school culture, we nurture confident, resilient, and caring individuals who can flourish academically, socially, and emotionally. They do not shy away from difficulties and challenges, but rather, are able to embrace them from a secure and solid position.

Inservi Deo et laetare