Central to education at Uppingham are the personal, social, health and wellbeing skills that are the foundations of a happy, healthy life.
Pupils are taught essential lessons for life through our innovative Wellbeing programme, which is incorporated into the curriculum. This programme is designed to help children to understand health and wellbeing and to develop positive habits and behaviours that will last a lifetime. Through teaching and support, we help our pupils to deal positively with the challenges and changes they will face throughout their lives and ensure that they leave the school able to thrive in the real world.
In the Fourth Form, Lower Fifth and Upper Fifth, weekly wellbeing lessons help pupils to explore their strengths, their values, how they relate to others, and how they can be the best versions of themselves. They learn how to look after themselves and others, emotionally and physically, as they navigate the complexities and uncertainties of teenage life. Through these lessons, we hope to develop in pupils the foundations for a life full of purpose, achievement and zest.
In the Lower Sixth, pupils participate in the RISEupp Talks programme where guest speakers are welcomed into school every fortnight to discuss real life issues and their own lived experiences with our pupils. On the alternate week, pupils participate in small group workshops to encourage debate and further exploration of the issues raised by the speakers.
This programme is enhanced by additional talks and workshops throughout the school year. We take a variety of approaches, from focus days, teambuilding and away days to targeted small group work, depending on the subject matter and the individual needs of pupils. To support our staff, we invite experts in their fields to speak to pupils in the most appropriate environment at key stages of their development. The houses often provide safe places for discreet discussions about sensitive issues.
School nurses and peer mentors play a key role in our integrated, joined-up health education. Lower Sixth Wellbeing Advocates are available to help pupils who may be struggling. Pupils are often more comfortable talking to other young people about their problems, and we trust our pupils to deal with issues sensitively and responsibly.
Throughout their time at school, our pupils also have ample opportunity to try out new life skills and discover aptitudes they never knew they had. In the houses and through the co-curricular programme, they could have a go at knitting, yoga, mindfulness or pizza making. Anything is possible with the life skills opportunities afforded at Uppingham, and no two pupils’ paths through school are ever the same.