Teenagers are taking the first serious steps into the adult world. Those steps are difficult, in part, because they feel they are ready, but often are not adequately equipped – emotionally, psychologically, intellectually or physically. The consequences of those first faltering steps can be disruptive and disorientating as certainties diminish, demands increase and relationships change.
In today’s world, these challenges are heightened by external stimuli that are not always as exciting as they were back in Early Years. Social media is omnipresent and does offer the wonder of connection to people all over the world, but it also brings constant comparison, judgement and discrimination right into a teenager’s bedroom. It magnifies and complicates all of those concerns that adolescents have always had: the needs to fit in and to be accepted; to break free of constraint and to take risks; to find yourself and the courage to be yourself.
As in the primary school, flourishing is a theme that runs through all that we do in the secondary school. We include PSHE as part of our regular curriculum and workshops to cover the issues that teenagers often face as part of our Co-Curricular Programme. In addition, should a student need someone to talk to, there is a Student Counsellor on hand to listen.