Why does pupil wellbeing matter?

Chris Townsend, Headmaster of Felsted School, discusses why Felsted has taken an innovative approach to safeguard pupil happiness.

Ten years ago the term ‘wellbeing’ was never used in schools; indeed it was not talked about at all. It was probably Anthony Seldon (former Master of Wellington College) who started the discussion, when he launched happiness lessons.

Personally, I am not a great advocate for happiness lessons, because I don’t think wellbeing should be taught as a discreet part of what a school offers. I believe wellbeing should be a part of what a school is, at the heart of what the school is trying to deliver. Although I am proud to have just opened an in-school Wellbeing Centre (one of the first in a school in the UK) here at Felsted, it really is not the building, but the statement that is important, and what that means to members of our community, whether pupils, staff, or parents.

Why does wellbeing matter? It is a recognition of the challenges that young people face in society today. It is one of the hardest areas to come to terms with, the fact that there are increasing incidences of mental health challenges for young people. One question often asked is whether there are increasing incidents, or whether we just have greater awareness and are more prepared to talk about these issues. It is probably a combination of the two, but there’s no doubt that the pace of life at which we live, the pressures which we apply and everything else that comes in around the life of young people, not least the ubiquitous social media, that combine to add to that pressure and anxiety.

So the purpose of our Wellbeing Centre is not just to provide a focus at the heart of the school for this particular area, but to show how important it is to us as a school that young people at Felsted are happy. It is an underrated value, an underrated quality, something that people either take for granted, or see as being a little bit ‘airy-fairy’. Actually, it’s absolutely the core of what we as a school want to deliver. We aim to create a culture of awareness of mental health needs, with no stigma or discrimination, providing high quality mental health training for staff, pupils and parents. And if a child is happy, they will be learning to their full potential and achieving the best that they can in all areas of school life.

We teach all our pupils, from the youngest years, the importance of mental health, through PSHE lessons, peer counselling, yoga sessions or mindfulness lessons. It forms an integral part of our pastoral care offering with all our staff equipped to understand and look out for the mental wellbeing of their pupils, whether in the boarding houses, classrooms, at lunch or in co-curricular activities.

A massive support network underpins our care for each child, which includes a house parent, tutor, teachers, matron, chaplain, peer counsellors, house and school prefects and now our in-house Wellbeing Centre and Counselling Service. The Centre provides a tranquil hub for pupils to drop in for some ‘time-out’, as well as providing a number of specialised services, such as paint, play and sand therapy, the latter being particularly popular with older students who may find it different to express themselves verbally.

My aim is to help to develop well-adjusted young people who are happy; happy in themselves, happy in their relationships with one another, and happy with who they are, ready to go out and make a difference in the world. That, for me, is why wellbeing matters at Felsted.

“The wellbeing centre is genius and ahead of the game in education. Wellbeing is core to personal success in many ways and will continue to be even more important in life after school. I am confident that my child is well looked after when they are not at home.”

Parent of a weekly boarder

Felsted is a leading co-educational independent school, providing an all-round. holistic education for pupils aged 4 to 18, with day and contemporary boarding options to suit modern family life.

Only 50 minutes north of London and south of Cambridge, find out why Felsted is becoming a popular choice for many families. www.felsted.org.