Mindfulness lessons similar to those enjoyed by Pocklington Prep School children are to be trialled in schools across the country amid growing evidence of their effectiveness in supporting mental health and wellbeing.

Pocklington Prep has been an early and active supporter of teaching pupils different techniques to help them remain calm and positive, holding mindfulness classes and encouraging children to use relaxation exercises to help face down any worries or anxieties. It is one of the reasons Pocklington School was the first school in the country to be awarded the Boarding School Mental Health Award last year.

The Government marked Children’s Mental Health Week this week by announcing that pupils in up to 370 schools will learn how to use a range of techniques to promote good mental health and help them deal with the pressures of the modern world. They will benefit from mindfulness exercises, which encourage people to step back and concentrate on the moment, along with other relaxation and breathing activities to help them regulate their emotions. Education Secretary Damian Hinds said the two-year trial would evaluate the different approaches to supporting young people’s mental health, happiness and wellbeing.

Year 2 class teacher Romney Walton, who leads mindfulness teaching in the Prep School, welcomed the Government’s announcement. She said: “This is brilliant news. Everybody should be taught the relaxation and coping techniques that our children learn because they benefit you for life.”

Mrs Walton is one of six teachers across Pocklington School and Prep School who are trained in mindfulness. She runs lunchtime mindfulness classes for Pre-Prep and Prep School children and circulates resources so all teachers can introduce mindfulness and relaxation activities in the classroom. The approach continues in Pocklington School, where all First Years practise mindfulness and everyone is welcome to weekly mindfulness sessions.

This week Mrs Walton took special mindfulness assemblies at the Prep School to coincide with Children’s Mental Health Week. Pupils’ contributions showed they have taken onboard the mindfulness principles, better understand their emotions and are open about them, which is important to enable them to identify any problems going forward and ask for help if they need it.

“Their vocabulary and the standard of discussion was amazing,” said Mrs Walton. “We talked about the causes of worries and emotions and how we can deal with them in a positive way. We also practised some relaxation techniques and breathing exercises to help us stay calm.” 

Mrs Walton said mindfulness should be added to the Government’s healthy eating campaign, so everyone aims for 6 A Day to stay well: “Mental wellness affects our physical wellness. Research shows that if mindfulness techniques like ours were implemented across more schools it would lead to fewer behavioural issues, fewer playground incidents and less absenteeism,” she added.