Developing resilience in students and staff is key to success at Finham Park School.
Developing resilience in young people is an important part of any educator's role, particularly. Considering the global context, it is important to equip them with the tools to face challenges, to face changes in their lives and to equip them with the tools to face things that are of concern.
This week, Finham has continued to prepare students for upcoming external exams, utilising one-to-one mentoring, taking students on external revision courses, utilising 'thinking hard' strategies in mentoring time and providing revision tools in lessons to support them.
This is also true for staff who face many challenges each day. Wellbeing charters and employee assistance programs are an important mechanism to ensure that all are supported in a structured way.
But there is also the need for less formal support. When key staff leave for example, adapting to new ways of working, communicating and presenting to others is essential as the old ways change overnight.
This is made much easier by the support of excellent colleagues who ensure that functions of the school continue uninterrupted.
Student wellbeing charter
Staff wellbeing charter
Positive Affirmations
‘So, what I do is, every morning, I wake up and if I’m feeling low, I don’t think about the negatives. I wake up and I think about the positives to start off my day. And what I do now is I something called ‘positive affirmations’. I’ve been doing this for the last year. I look at all the positives in my life like my house, my children, and also equally possessions that I have got.
So, yeah, I’ve got a house, I’ve got a car etc. I don’t look at the fact I wish I had more money for this week or next week, but I just concentrate on happy things - the good things in my life - more than the negative things.
And I think of those. Slowly and thoughtfully.
I tend to do this in the car while I’m driving.
I think of as many things as I can. I can honestly say that this approach has changed my life!
It makes me happy throughout the day as it sets the tone from the start in a good way’.
(Voice note from a member of staff)
Staff voice (Anonymous)
