Subjects

Our aim is to have a whole school emotional wellbeing approach that moves beyond learning and teaching to cover all aspects of school life and for all staff and students to realise their own abilities, to cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and to be able to make a positive contribution to the community.

The wellbeing of our students, and indeed of all those involved with The Matthew Arnold School, is paramount. Healthy, happy and safe individuals thrive and make progress; stressed, tired and unhappy ones don’t.

Despite our acknowledged outstanding record for safeguarding and student welfare, we never rest on our laurels and constantly seek new ways to promote the wellbeing of all. We start this every day by being on the school gate to welcome each student, and finish in the same way to ensure they leave the school site safely and positively.

Once a week, students have a wellbeing lesson, delivered by their form tutor. This complements and builds on the tutor programme, but also focuses on enjoyment for its own sake. Students are given the opportunity to engage in a diverse range of activities that lend themselves across the school curriculum, from yoga to cake decoration to code-cracking.

Throughout the delivery of these sessions, students are encouraged to develop their oracy skills through debate and discussion in an environment based on mutual respect for all. These are based on bespoke topics that are tailored for each individual year group and the current issues that are being faced locally and globally.

Similarly, staff wellbeing and work life balance is a priority for the leadership team, ensuring that our teachers are energetic, positive and in school every day! Staff and student wellbeing is a regular discussion point in weekly SLT meetings, where we self-reflect on what we are doing well and where we can develop further, to ensure all of the people in the Matthew Arnold community are happy and safe inside and outside of school.