IS WELLBEING A REALISTIC GOAL ?
BY : RACHEL BATTY
Wellbeing has never been so important ; a paradigm shift has gradually taken root in many schools around the world . The concept of wellbeing has evolved from a farfetched ideal , misunderstood by many school leaders and dreamed about by overstretched teachers ; to something that positively impacts on work-life balance ; strengthens relationships and communication throughout a school community , and empowers pupils and staff to make lasting and meaningful changes in their lives .
Wellbeing isn ’ t about being happy all of the time . It isn ’ t about asking somebody in your school to take ownership of everybody else ’ s , and it certainly cannot be achieved through a one-size-fits-all approach … So , how might a school take meaningful steps towards improving the wellbeing of their whole community ?
Mrs Rachel Batty , a wellbeing consultant and pastoral leader at The English School , Kuwait shares her top tips for growing an effective and long-lasting wellbeing initiative .
For any school that may not have considered embarking upon a wellbeing strategy , what would you advise as first steps to take ?
It ’ s important that this is taken seriously at the grassroots level ; the wellbeing of our school community is paramount and included in our school ’ s vision statement .
Don ’ t look at it as an add-on ; make sure it fits within your school ’ s vision and ethos , and that it can be directly translated into actions that support your delivery . You should have a strategy that ensures wellbeing is tightly woven into the fabric of your school : there is a myriad of opportunities to highlight wellbeing ,
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Term 2 Jan - Mar 2021 Class Time