If you were the founding headteacher of a brand new school and had a clean slate, what would you differently?
Hannah Wilson started 2 brand new schools in South Oxfordshire – Aureus School and Aureus Primary School. With a values-based education as the foundations of the culture and ethos, wellbeing and resilience were core values that underpinned every child-centred decision.
Designing a holistic education the team flipped the school day, introduced daily mindfulness, removed school bells, reduced lesson changeovers, did not set homework and banned packed lunches. Utilising space and building community partnerships they created a Sensory Room, a Thrive Room, a Nurture Room and hosted an Arts Therapy charity.
As a result Aureus School was the first school in Oxfordshire to achieve the Gold Mental Health in Schools Award and also became a Rights Respecting School, an Educate and Celebrate School and a VBE school in their first year of opening.
Hannah will share their journey, thought processes and impact.