Wellbeing Ethos

John the Baptist Community School is committed to the provision of a broadly based education in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect, balancing vision with realism which facilitates personal growth and development among students, staff and community, within the context of a Christian ethos.

 

The above statement alludes to the development of the full potential of the individual as central to the work of this school. This commitment to wellbeing permeates all the school’s policies, plans and schemes in the commitment to promoting the development of each individual. “Student wellbeing is present when students realise their abilities, take care of their physical wellbeing, can cope with the normal stresses of life, and have a sense of purpose and belonging to a wider community” Wellbeing Guidelines (2015).  The World Health Organisation suggests it is “a state …in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”. In John the Baptist C.S., we understand wellbeing to include a mental, physical, social and spiritual dimension. We as a community recognise and support the importance of wellbeing in all aspects in our everyday activities.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child emphasises children’s right to achieve their full potential and participate in decisions that affect them, the right to felt secure and happy. It leads to better educational outcomes and can influence young people’s outcomes as adults, as children with higher levels of emotional, behavioural, social and school wellbeing have higher levels of academic achievement subsequently. The quality of relationships between teachers and students has a huge impact on a number of student outcomes, including socio-emotional wellbeing, engagement in schoolwork, feeling a sense of belonging in school, levels of disciplinary problems, and academic achievement. Wellbeing matters not simply because it leads to better educational outcomes or can influence young people’s outcomes as adults. Wellbeing matters in the here and now. It is important in its own right because all students have a right to feel cared for in school.  Student welfare and pastoral care has always been central to life at John the Baptist C.S. and will continue to be so.

Wellbeing in part of our everyday life in the school.

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