This week, our Second Form pupils have been exploring the theme of healthy relationships, learning what they can look like in practice and applying this understanding to a range of real-life scenarios. As part of our wellbeing curriculum next week, pupils will take part in guided role-play activities focused on common friendship challenges. These sessions aim to help them practise respectful communication, problem-solving and understanding different perspectives.

This month’s theme in the Wellbeing Hub is managing friendship conflict. As part of this, I have written an article offering a step-by-step guide to mediation meetings, particularly when adult support becomes necessary. We recognise how distressing friendship difficulties can be for young people, and the Wellbeing Hub provides practical guidance for parents on how to support children through these experiences in a calm and constructive way.

Supporting teens through friendship fallout: A step-by-step guide to mediation meetings – The Wellbeing Hub

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind parents about large group chats. We strongly encourage regular check-ins with your children about their online communication, including what they may be writing or receiving in group messages. While group chats can feel socially important, we often find they can contribute to misunderstandings, exclusion or unkind communication. For this reason, we discourage pupils from being part of them. I have attached a helpful resource from Common Sense Media, which offers clear advice for families navigating this area.

Finally, pupils have begun a creative challenge to design decorations for their Day Rooms, linked to the 5 Ways to Wellbeing, in preparation for our Wellbeing Festival taking place in February. During the festival, each year group will take part in activities connected to the five ways, offering a shared opportunity to reflect on how we can proactively support our wellbeing as a community.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.