Elizabeth College adds mindfulness to Year 7 curriculum
MINDFULNESS has been added to the Elizabeth College curriculum for Year 7 students and it is hoped to be rolled out to the rest of the school.
Elizabeth College has two fully-qualified mindfulness teachers and is the only local school involved with the UK National Mindfulness in Schools Project.
Head of PSHE and life skills Jacqui Pendleton said mindfulness had proved popular, with a survey revealing students from Year 7 through to Year 12 believed it was the most important part of PSHE lessons.
‘If we can support our students to recognise worry, manage those difficulties, and develop a more mindful awareness, we can help them appreciate what is going well so they can really thrive,’ Ms Pendleton said.
‘Mindfulness can help you develop a greater awareness of relationships and how to manage them and a richer understanding of things like self-esteem and optimism. It can also help us to understand and direct our attention with greater awareness and skill, improving concentration and the ability to plan.’
Young people’s mental health is a growing problem in society, school chaplain the Rev. Peter Graysmith said.
‘Our minds and bodies are very linked – when we train our minds, it can make a huge difference to us.’
He said Year 7 was a good starting point to give students helpful tools to improve their own mental health early on.
‘The breathing exercises help me think more clearly and calm down,’ said Lexi Hunter, 11.
Joel Hoolahan, also 11, said: ‘I liked when we clapped our hands and felt them tingle afterwards – we focused on what you don’t usually notice.’
Principal Jenny Palmer said mindfulness was an exciting addition to the curriculum and hoped to provide students with skills they could also use away from school.
‘Elizabeth College is committed to providing a holistic education for all our students and we see our academic and pastoral work as interrelated and complementary,’ she said.
‘We believe it is vital that, alongside achieving their academic potential, our students learn skills and have experiences that enable them to thrive and flourish.’
To promote this, the new Perrot Court building will have a quiet room and it is hoped more teachers will have training.
‘It is envisaged mindfulness teaching will become fully embedded within the school’s culture,’ Ms Pendleton said.
Year 7 and 8 students have the choice of yoga as a Friday afternoon option, with a club open to all students available after half-term.
