The initiative is part of a wellbeing and resilience course for pupils at Hampton School in Middlesex.
Designed by Mark Nicholson, the school’s head of mindfulness and wellbeing and assistant head of the sixth form, the course is delivered in two stages. The key foundations are introduced in year 7 while the school’s 188 year 10 pupils follow a seven-week course, with lessons on happiness, setting future goals, gratitude and altruism and sleep and exercise.
As part of the gratitude and altruism theme boys keep a “gratitude journal”. The journal is optional and kept confidential but boys write about a variety of things they are grateful for, such as a delicious meal they enjoyed or playing in a band with friends.
“Doing the exercise has a noticeable effect on how you see yourself in the wider world and I found it really helped me deal with the stress of some upcoming exams,” said one boy.
“It helps you put your life into context and place in perspective some of the things that worry you and can seem all-consuming when you are teenager – such as getting good grades or performing well in a sports match.”
Hampton School, which has 1,200 pupils, has introduced a What Went Well Tree. Boys write things that have gone well for them on a paper leaf and stick them on the tree. They are also encouraged to carry out random acts of kindness.
“There is some well-respected research that reflecting on things you feel grateful for has a positive impact on wellbeing,” said Mr Nicholson, one of six specially trained staff who teach the wellbeing and resilience course and mindfulness lessons.
Other schools have expressed interest in introducing the programme.