Emotional Tools for Life

As public examinations for Years 11 and 13 approach, we recognise that this period can bring heightened stress and pressure. It's the culmination of over a decade of formal education, and many students understandably feel overwhelmed. To support their emotional wellbeing during this important time, we were delighted to welcome Marie and Beth to Charters School for a series of workshops focused on managing stress and building inner calm.

Drawing from their own personal experiences with emotional challenges, Marie and Beth introduced students to a range of simple, effective techniques designed to ease anxiety and improve focus. The sessions began with a “Super Brain Yoga” exercise to energise and prepare the body, followed by guided breathing techniques that encouraged deep, mindful belly breathing - known to reduce stress and support mental clarity. With up to 80,000 thoughts passing through our minds each day, learning to pause and regulate the breath can be a powerful way to reset and regain focus.

The workshops concluded with a short, guided meditation. Students were encouraged to respect the quiet space, even if they chose not to participate, and the result was a calm, reflective atmosphere as both year groups focused inwardly. The stillness in the room was remarkable; a testament to the power of these simple practices in helping students connect with their emotions and settle their minds.

We are incredibly grateful that these workshops were made possible through the generosity of two key funding sources: our Legacy Fund and Tesco’s Stronger Starts grant. Each year, families of Year 11 and 13 students are invited to donate to the Legacy Fund, and last year’s contributions supported a number of mental health initiatives. In addition, a £1,000 grant from Tesco, (thanks to the thousands of customers who supported our school by voting with their blue tokens,) enabled us to extend our wellbeing programme even further.

Thanks to this combined support, Marie and Beth will also be working with smaller groups of students across the school in the coming weeks, helping them develop personalised strategies to manage their emotions and thrive under pressure.

The techniques shared in these workshops offer our students valuable tools - not just for the exam period, but for life beyond the classroom. We extend our sincere thanks to our generous parents and Tesco customers who made this possible and of course to Marie and Beth for delivering such informative workshops.