Mental and physical wellbeing could not be more intertwined. Regular exercise, mindfulness and exposure to the outdoor environment are known as being crucial to developing creativity, aspirations, resilience and empathy and strong emotional wellbeing. Good physical health, promotes self-esteem and reduces the anxiety that can at times pervade teenage life. We know that we have to put on our own oxygen masks before we help others, so looking after our own wellbeing through improved self-awareness, and “self-likes” has been an important first step. Putney’s “culture of kindness” spreads throughout the school, from Opening Minds and Positive Playtimes in the Junior school to Diversity Week and the activities of Wellbeing Within for our Senior students.

Environmental factors can have a huge impact on our wellbeing. Fresh air, sunshine and greenery have a therapeutic effect, allowing us to calm our minds in ways that improve cognitive performance and stimulate us into better creative thinking. Our recent project in Biophilic design in the Sixth Form Centre has shown how good design and bringing the natural world into the classroom can not only enhance air quality and environment, but actively improve mood and focus in lessons.

Understanding how to appreciate and maintain our local environment is a crucial first step in tackling the wider issues that face our world, so a key part of the Breathe programme has been teaming up with other nearby schools to galvanise the local community in everything from bulb planting to litter picking, to monitoring air pollution. Four local schools joined us in October for our Breathe Conference, coming together to clean up, plant trees and to brainstorm ideas for a sustainable future with leading environmental experts. The value of cross-curricular learning was clear as we watched keen scientists and engineers come together with budding artists and designers to envisage the electric vehicle charge points of the future.

We all came away, inspired, optimistic and secure in the knowledge that Putney’s holistic and community approach can equip the next generation with the keys to make a really positive difference. In the words of Heidi Armstrong, our Deputy Head, “Breathe has developed into far more than an environmental campaign. Today at Putney, it has become an integral part of our ethos with pupils having a voice and very much taking the lead.”