The Importance of Health & Wellbeing in School
The importance of health and wellbeing cannot be underestimated. Children’s development starts with a strong focus on developing healthy habits that improve both physical and mental wellbeing and schools have a responsibility to help promote this to pupils early in their lives.
Through being taught wellbeing practices and techniques, as well as helping pupils develop the necessary knowledge and skills to make healthy choices, schools across the country can guide children and young people to a healthier lifestyle. By instilling healthy habits and promoting methods of looking after one’s mental health from a young age, pupils are better equipped to face any challenges that life may throw.
Throughout this article, we’ll discuss the premise of health and wellbeing and why it’s such an important aspect of school life.
The Role of Schools in Improving Health and Wellbeing
Schools play a vital role in promoting the health and wellbeing of their pupils and both aspects – physical and mental health – are prioritised.
Below, we explore what schools can do to improve health and wellbeing.
Physical Health
One way that schools can promote strong physical health is by providing access to nutritious food. Much of a child’s life is spent in school, so if they become accustomed to eating a well-balanced diet, this can become a healthy habit that expands into their personal life.
In addition to promoting healthy eating habits, schools can encourage habits to form relating to physical activity through trying different sports in PE, sports teams, and active playtime.
Physical activity doesn’t only improve physical health, but it can also have a positive impact on mental health by helping to reduce stress and lift mood.
Mental Health
Schools can also support the mental health of their pupils by providing access to a range of mental health resources and support. This can include counselling services, peer support groups, and education on mental health and wellbeing.
Additionally, schools can further improve the mental health of their pupils by creating a positive and inclusive environment by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This can be achieved through initiatives such as:
- Peer mentoring programmes
- Anti-bullying policies
- Encouraging open communication with teachers, staff, and other pupils
- Promoting empathy and understanding of different backgrounds and cultures
By promoting positive relationships, schools can help pupils feel supported and valued, which can have a positive impact on their mental health.
Health and Wellbeing at The High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is committed to providing the very best mental health and wellbeing programmes to our pupils. We proactively work to develop initiatives to help reduce the chance of issues, and have the necessary skills to support if a pupil exhibits any signs of stress or struggles.
Peer Hub
At the Senior School, we’ve created a platform named the ‘Peer Hub’ for older students to offer support and advice to their younger peers in our purpose-built Wellbeing Room. This area was developed to provide a space for pupils to relax, while sharing their thoughts and experiences with others.
We’ve found that our Peer Hub is a great avenue for our pupils to take a break and release any stress that can arise from school life. In addition, the School Nurse and Pastoral members of staff are always available to provide a friendly ear.
Purple House Clinic Partnership
In 2020, our Junior School began their own mental health and wellbeing initiative, forming a partnership with the Purple House Clinic who specialise in working with adults and children to improve their mental health.
The partnership allows us to provide professional mental health support to our Junior School pupils, as well as teaching our valued staff the skills to help pupils in their time of need.
Chill Out Zone
Developed by the leader of our Junior School’s pastoral care, Deputy Head Mrs Morrans, the ‘Chill Out Zone’ is available to pupils who may be struggling in some way, wish to remove themselves from the noisy playground and do some mindful colouring or reading, or simply want to talk to a teacher.
To provide the best possible support, Mrs Morrans and our team of trained pastoral care specialists will be available to discuss any sort of concern your child may be facing, both inside and outside of school.
Senior School Health & Wellbeing Week
During our Health and Wellbeing Week, pupils and staff celebrated physical and mental wellbeing with various activities and special guest speakers.
They heard from Olympic gold medallist Dame Katherine Grainger, author Nicola Morgan, comedian Stephen Halkett, and our very own Transitus S class pupils. Activities included a ‘Kindness Rocks’ art project where pupils painted encouraging messages and positives affirmations on rocks to give to one another or leave around the school, visits to the community, pilates and yoga classes, crocheting, mindfulness sessions, music sessions, and workshops on nutrition, inclusion, cancer awareness and CPR training.
There was also an empowerment workshop for our S6 pupils which saw them take on the ‘Firewalk’ and walk across hot coals, putting them to the test and showing them just how much they are capable of. The week culminated with a visit from the much loved therapy dogs, with pupils spending lunch time hanging out with some furry friends!
Final Thoughts
Schools across the country have a vital role to play in the development of children and young people’s health and wellbeing. There are countless examples that show the need for a strong effort towards improving pupils’ physical and mental health.
Due to the relationship between academic performance, and health and wellbeing, schools should prioritise as much resource as possible to improve their pupils’ mental and physical health.
The programmes created across both our Junior and Senior School show our commitment to caring for our pupils’ health and wellbeing and reinforces our philosophy that in order to do well, one must first be well.
You can learn more about The High School of Glasgow’s range of fantastic sporting and co-curricular activities or pastoral care by clicking here.