Ask parents what first struck them about St Hilda’s and the answer is often the same: it feels like a family. That is not an accident. The wellbeing of all children, staff and parents at St Hilda’s is our first priority, and the family feel that has run through the school for more than 135 years is something we work at every day.
So what does that look like in practice?
What is myHappymind?
At the centre of our approach is myHappymind, a whole-school programme grounded in science and dedicated to building positive mental wellbeing. We use it right across the school, starting in the Early Years, so that every girl grows up with a shared language for talking about how she feels.
myHappymind helps children understand how their brains work, and gives them practical tools to self-regulate and manage their emotions in stressful times. Over time, it builds resilience, confidence and self-esteem. It also covers much of our PSHE teaching and Early Years guidance, so wellbeing is woven into the curriculum rather than bolted on.
How myHappymind works in the classroom
The programme is built around a series of modules, from Meet Your Brain, where children learn what happens in their heads when they feel worried or cross, through to Celebrate, Appreciate, Relate and Engage. A four-year-old might learn to take a calming breath when she feels upset; a ten-year-old might set herself a goal and reflect on the strengths that will help her reach it. The ideas grow with the girls.
A pastoral team that notices
Good wellbeing support depends on people who notice when something is not quite right. Mrs Atkins, our Director of Pastoral Care and Mental Health Lead, and Miss Smith, our Assistant Director of Wellbeing and Deputy Mental Health Lead, lead this work across the school. Alongside them, small nurture groups such as Growing Club and Brick Club give girls who need a little extra support a calm space to build confidence, and families can be referred to Harpenden Partnership Plus for further support, including counselling.
The small things that add up
Much of what makes St Hilda’s feel like a family happens in the everyday moments:
- Three Houses, York, Lancaster and Warwick, with House buddies pairing older and younger girls
- A Form VI Wellbeing Prefect in each House who plans activities and looks out for younger pupils
- Our Playground Squad, girls from Forms IV to VI who support others at break and lunch, with a seagull mascot called Whitby
- A mentor for every girl from Form V, to help with the move to senior school and beyond
- A school value for each half term, from Positivity and Independence to Kindness and Resilience
- Outdoor Explorers, which gets girls learning outside whatever the weather
Supporting wellbeing at home
Some simple habits can reinforce what the girls learn at school:
- Download the myHappymind Parent App, so you can use the same language and tools at home that she is learning in school
- Help her name her feelings, as “I’m frustrated” is easier to deal with than a bad mood
- Share one thing you are each grateful for at dinner or bedtime
- Ask “what went well today?” rather than “how was school?”
- Protect sleep, outdoor time and unstructured play
- Remember that car journeys and bedtime are often when children open up most
Wellbeing is not one lesson or one programme. It is the sum of hundreds of small moments in which a child feels known, safe and valued. If you would like to see how that feels for yourself, book a personal tour and come and meet us.
