Rydal Penrhos pupils headed to the beach for special activities as part of the school’s Wellbeing Week.
“What a lovely thing, to be able to walk to the beach from our classrooms!” – Mrs Lucy Davies – Head of Rydal Penrhos Prep School.
Children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing have become a hot topic of discussion in recent months. It’s now a focal point within education and the coronavirus pandemic has only heightened the need to examine and improve this critical area for pupils young and old throughout Rydal Penrhos and indeed across the country.
This is something our staff team is fully aware of. Pupils receive constant support and guidance not only regarding their studies, but also from an emotional standpoint during such difficult times.
Staff at the school have arranged a Wellbeing Week from Monday 21 June until 25 June to promote awareness and take some of the stress from our pupils with activities to go along with their usual timetable.
The first of these saw various year groups make the short journey down to Colwyn Bay beach, where they were greeted by warm sunshine and a chance to explore surroundings right on their doorstep both individually and as part of a group.
During the Year 5 trip, pupils enjoyed a picnic lunch along the picturesque shoreline, before having a short period of play ahead of their activities.
They were then challenged, in groups, to build a sandcastle. The pupils had one hour to construct something that was creative, individual and each section of the castle had to have a purpose.
This improved communication and ignited curiosity, resulting in some fantastic final designs that can be viewed in our gallery below.
Year 8 took part in their own beach session with Alice Breed, a PGCE student from Bangor University, which focused on writing words in the sand to describe their environment.
The increase in mental health issues in children is concerning because of its potential impact on their learning.
Although there are many factors outside of a school’s control that affect the wellbeing of the children they teach, we can still have a significant impact on improving wellbeing within the relaxed, safe and friendly environment Rydal Penrhos provides.
Promoting pupil wellbeing is more than just helping children to achieve better academically. A child’s wellbeing could be the key to their future happiness.
Given that good mental health is linked to better learning outcomes, there is a strong sense of vindication in our staff prioritising wellbeing. Something that has already paid dividends with exceptional academic results, high value-added scores and happy pupils who are thriving across our stunning campus.
Rydal Penrhos Wellbeing Week at the Beach
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Anyone wishing to enquire about Rydal Penrhos School can do so by calling 01492 530155, email admissions@rydalpenrhos.com or register your interest online here: https://rydalpenrhos.com/admissions/apply-now.
