The Educator Magazine U.K. Jan-April 2024 issue - Magazine - Page 67
However, we understand that an
engaging curriculum alone is not
enough for positive wellbeing.
Core to our approach is our
comprehensive programme of
mentoring. Each member of staff teaching and non-teaching - receives
cognitive coaching training.
All students have a dedicated mentor
whom they meet for 15 minutes each
week. These personalised sessions take
students on a journey of self-discovery,
cultivate self-awareness and hone their
ability to understand how their beliefs
or behaviours might contribute to any
personal or social challenges they face.
This equips them with the capacity
to address issues proactively, and to
respond to elements beyond their
control in a positive, productive
manner. Our emphasis on cognitive
coaching at Halcyon reflects our
commitment to fostering true
resilience, an essential quality for
navigating the complexities of the
modern world.
Our approach to “discipline” is also
about self-reflection and personal
growth. Restorative practice -as
opposed to traditional punitive
measures - is based on a few shared
values rather than an exhaustive list
of rules. This serves as the cornerstone
of our commitment to a nurturing
environment. The values we uphold
— doing our best, thinking things
through, being safe to be around, and
working together — provide a
foundation for dialogue and reflection,
aligning with the IB learner profile. By
living the values we promote through
our curriculum, we demonstrate respect
for our students and this opens the
door for them to reciprocate to us and
in wider life.
In our classrooms, traditional
hierarchies are dismantled so that they
feel like spaces that belong to students,
not just teachers. A place that feels like
a sanctuary for them . The design is
reminiscent of university seminar rooms
and fosters an atmosphere where
dialogue is paramount. The absence of
teacher desks symbolises the breaking
down of the normal authority dynamic,
encouraging everyone in the room to
engage actively in the learning process.
of incorporating well-being into school
life. However, with financial
resources scarce and an election
looming, we strongly urge those who
wish to lead our country to commit to
greater investment in state schools.
This will unlock the potential for
innovation and provide the resources to
help schools make well-being central to
all that they do.
The language used by teachers is
inclusive and reflective and staff and
pupils are encouraged to develop ways
of becoming better listeners, so
everyone feels heard and able to
express their intellectual ideas and
feelings. We might not have equal levels
of knowledge and expertise but we are
equal in our humanity.
We are proud of our commitment to
student well-being and the fact that it
goes beyond rhetoric - that it is
embedded in our curriculum, our
classrooms, and our values. Through
the IB, restorative practices, and
cognitive coaching, we empower
students to not only navigate the
intricacies of academia but to thrive as
resilient, purpose-driven individuals,
laying the foundation for a brighter
future.
Halcyon is privileged to have good
resources to implement our holistic
approach well-being. But I feel other
schools can take on many of our ways
Halcyon London International School
is a not-profit school in Marylebone,
for students aged 11-18. It follows the
International Baccalaureate curriculum.