In February 2019 the BBC reported that mindfulness was being taught in some schools across the UK to improve teacher and pupil wellbeing.

The students learn about mindfulness which is the practice of being aware and in the present moment, without being distracted by thoughts and feelings.  Mindfulness exercises include relaxation and breathing exercises in order to help the students regulate their emotions. 

Professor Katherine Weare, the co-lead for education at The Mindfulness Institute recently revealed the growing evidence for mindfulness in education. Her review found that mindfulness in the classroom can have a positive impact psychological, social, and physical well-being in children. 

As mindfulness has become more mainstream, studies continue to prove that it has a positive effect on our wellbeing and where it is practised in schools can result in less stress for pupils and teachers and fewer suspensions. 

Anxiety Among Students 

Research from the Mental Health Foundation has found that 1 in 8 children and young people are affected by mental ill-health and 70% have not had appropriate interventions. This includes conditions such as depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders which are on the rise. 

By utilising mindfulness students can begin to decrease the impact of mental health experiences and learn how to manage conditions. 

As more schools are becoming aware of this rise in student mental health, many are adopting mindfulness practices into their school routine to provide support. 

At Arnold Academy in North London, students are currently learning mindfulness and researchers will be following the school’s progress by studying the exercises the students practice to see the impact it has on their anxieties. 

The Magna Carta School in Surrey has introduced a health and wellbeing zone which allows students to voice their concerns, enjoy a quiet space and even practice mindfulness. 

The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families in Partnership with University College London will begin a trial to teach mindfulness to children across an incredible 370 schools. 

Stress Reduction for Teachers 

In the school environment, it is not just students that are struggling with their mental health, as many teachers will be well aware, stress and burnout are becoming common workplace conditions. 

According to research by the Education Support Partnership, 31% of education professionals have experienced a mental health issue during the 2018 academic year. 

However, mindfulness can also support teachers in reducing the impacts of stress and build resilience against depression. 

In a UK study of teachers who were put on a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course, participants revealed they felt less stressed and less reactive.  

Further research by Virginia University has found that teachers who have taken mindfulness training not only cope better with stress on the job but also make the classroom a more productive learning environment. 

The study by Virginia University is so far the largest to date that looks in-depth at how mindfulness impacts not only teacher wellbeing but the climate of the classroom. The research suggests that mindfulness positively affects individual wellbeing but also supports the communication that goes on between student and teacher.

Mindfulness can support students in the development of soft skills that can enable them to gain the most out of their educational experience. Focus, kindness and open-mindedness can all help students to meet the challenges they face in a rapidly changing world.  

While mindfulness is certainly no quick fix for schools, there is a body of evidence that goes a long way into revealing how it could begin to make students and teachers happier and healthier.