There are a number of ways that we prioritise and support our students’ mental health and wellbeing throughout the school, all year round.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, we take a look at some of the initiatives and activities designed to ensure our students feel happy, assured and supported.
Deliberately smaller than neighbouring schools, many of our students report that being at Westbourne feels like being part of one big family, where everyone knows and looks out for each other.
We are incredibly proud of our friendly, nurturing community. Pupils feel safe and secure, with friends across year groups, which helps to foster a culture of positive mental health and wellbeing.
Our students benefit from intensive one-to-one academic and personal support. Our teachers check in on every student regularly while also providing dedicated counselling and mentoring sessions.
To support and nurture our students, especially during times when there are additional pressures such as exams and university applications in Senior School and Sixth Form, our caring staff are always on hand to give guidance and reassurance.
To complement academic studies, all students have the opportunity to participate in a varied schedule of co-curricular clubs running daily, as well as regular trips and excursions to explore the beautiful coastline and countryside surrounding the school.
Trips have been in full swing over the past few months across the whole school, with highlights including an adventure residential in the Brecon Beacons, as well as a trip to the exhilarating Silverstone Interactive Museum for some fun, hands-on STEM learning! We also run a Wellness Week of excursions and activities every summer.
Clubs are carefully selected to extend the skills learned in class and to encourage confidence and independence, as well as a sense of achievement and personal wellbeing. Students choose from a broad range of activities including drama, singing, cookery, horse riding, white water rafting, skateboarding, newspaper club, origami, sailing and many more.
Our Senior School students have been enjoying exploring our wellbeing app, Revoola, which encourages them to spend time each day thinking about their personal wellbeing and activities to enrich this, including mindful meditation and regular physical workouts.
The learning journey our boarding school students undertake far surpasses academic study alone. Our boarders live as part of a caring community of students from all over the world, residing together in a safe setting in the heart of a small town, and the friendships they make last a lifetime.
Over the past few years, we have introduced a range of enhanced wellbeing initiatives in order to ensure our boarders settle into their new lives in Penarth as quickly and happily as possible.
As well as welcoming each student individually at the airport, we run an Orientation & Welcome Week for all new boarders ahead of the start of the Autumn Term, which allows them to explore their new home at their own pace, as well as to meet new friends in a relaxed and supportive environment. Boarders enjoy excursions and walking tours of the local area, as well as social and teambuilding events.
We make sure to facilitate opportunities for our students to learn in stimulating outdoor settings as frequently as possible. All Prep School pupils take part in a half termly FaB School (Forest and Beach), an immersive outdoors learning experience designed to support pupils’ wellbeing and enhance traditional classroom teaching.
Pupils develop independence and practical skills, growing into happy, curious learners who are ready to explore their own interests and ideas. Lessons take place in countryside and coastal locations surrounding the school, including our private Forest School site with log circle, hammock, tree swing, natural building area, digging area and fire pit.
