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Seldon highlights link between wellbeing and academic performance

Posted on 1st December 2008

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Children's academic performance will be boosted if schools pay more attention to their general wellbeing, it is due to be argued.

Speaking to the Guild of Educators, master of independent school Wellington College Dr Anthony Seldon will call on schools to focus on the physical, mental, emotional and psychological health of young people.

A "change in regime" is needed to improve the attainment of pupils, he will argue, noting that fatigue, stress, lack of exercise and illness contribute to declining standards at schools.

He will suggest that performance is being "severely jeopardised" by incidences of depression and other mental and emotional problems.

'There is considerable evidence now that if children are physically and psychologically healthy they will perform much better at school academically," Dr Seldon is due to state.

In 2006 private institution Wellington College became the first school in the country to offer happiness lessons to its pupils, in a bid to boost their wellbeing.