Blow Your Own Trumpet
Building Grit and Resilience at Manchester High
Our role as educators is to prepare our pupils for life in the real world and the inevitable challenges they will face. According to research published in the 2017 Dove Global Girls Beauty and Confidence report, 61% of 10 to 17 year-old girls in the UK have low self-esteem. This is often shown by a reluctance or a downright unwillingness to talk about their achievements and what they are good at. Some girls have an inability to balance various aspects of their lives and feel they need to constantly strive for perfection.
What will really help today’s young people is their ability to withstand life’s knocks and set-backs. Those with resilience, self-belief and the ability to learn from their mistakes and move on will, I believe, be leading emotionally healthier, happier lives than those who take every trial and tribulation to heart.
At Manchester High, we have developed a system of pastoral care that is proactive rather than reactive. It equips girls to acquire the skills they need to cope with any challenges that they may face, both during their school career and beyond. The activities we undertake are not revolutionary or even necessarily new to schools; what is new is the way we proactively knit them all together.
Mental health and well-being is a priority for us all and one we cannot underestimate in even the youngest of people. Taking the time out of a busy day to have a ‘mindful moment’, to focus on ‘happy breathing’ or to share an emotion in our ‘thoughts and feelings’ boxes, all form part of daily life at MHSG. Our girls learn in a safe and trusting learning environment, with an emphasis on reflection and self-awareness.
Alongside our PSHE curriculum, our pupils also follow the myHappymind program initiated by MHSG governor and former pupil, Laura Earnshaw. myHappymind is grounded in neuroscience, positive psychology and character education so children learn how their brains work and how they can look after their minds.
To help students to face their fears, tackle new challenges and learn from their mistakes, we share a ‘Thought for the Week’; an inspirational quote or proverb which forms the basis for both our Infant and Junior assemblies, which provides a thought-provoking discussion where pupils are able to reflect and share their own understanding and meaning behind the quote. This is also shared in our weekly parent bulletin to encourage discussions to be continued at home. The shared ethos and relationship between home and school is vital for pupil wellbeing as it builds and strengthens the foundations for future learning and self-esteem, nurturing the grit and resilience needed to succeed and face life’s challenges positively.
During our annual ‘Blow Your Own Trumpet’ week, pupils and staff alike share their proudest moments with each other. This forms part of a lasting noticeboard for others to read and celebrate, and enables girls to grow in confidence and openness to share achievements publicly.
We have also introduced a school-wide ‘Big Think’ week where girls are encouraged to think independently and work collaboratively. Enjoyment and frustration can be seen in equal measure as they tackle a number of challenges head on, learning throughout the process.
The qualities of grit and resilience, independent learning, creative thinking and sisterhood all formed part of the Prep Prize Giving ceremony this year which recognised and celebrated the core aims and values of our school: the passion for learning, commitment to succeed, determination, and the ability to think outside the box, with a strong moral compass.
The Yeti Awards given at the ceremony marks the achievements of girls who have persevered when they ‘can’t do it YET’. These girls are our own very own ‘yetis’, people I feel society needs more of and it is our job to foster these important attributes for the future.
