Healthy Minds is a unique approach to teaching personal, social, health topics that enables students to navigate the world within and beyond school. Students are taught one lesson per week from Y7 – 10 and enjoy a range of lessons that enable class discussions and debates. Students participate in a variety of topics that include building resilience, ensuring internet and mobile phone safety, aspirational career guidance, as well as how to maintain healthy relationships. The lessons are taught by a variety of specifically trained Leigh Academy staff and continue to be popular among the students. The Leigh Academy has achieved the Healthy Minds kitemark from Bounce Forward.
The Leigh Academy were part of the national pilot of the programme which now serves over 800,000 young people in schools up and down the country. Our Personal Development offer was recognised as an area of excellence by Challenge Partners in 2021.
Module 1: Resilience Skills
- Understanding about emotions
- The basics of resilience
- Connecting the brain with emotions and thoughts (ABCs)
- Recognising when our emotions get out of control
- Optimisim and Pessimism
- Perspective
- Wobble
- Catastrophising
- Resilience Planning
Module 2: Breathe
- Understanding about breathing
- Finger breathing
- How the brain works in a crisis
- Taming the animal mind
- Stong silence and mindfulness
- Storytelling Mind
- Reacting & Responding
Module 3: Media Navigator
- Introduction to the dangers (and benefits) of social media
- Trolling
- Cyberbullying
- Staying safe online
- Sharing information online
- Online identity
Module 4: Resilience Revisited
- Practising resilience skills
- Combining .Breathe exercises with ABCs
- Self Talk
- Managing stress
Module 5: Drugs & Alcohol Education (Unplugged Part 1)
- Group dynamics
- Peer Pressure
- Choices – alcohol, risk and protection
- Examining the facts about alcohol use
- The effects of smoking
Module 1: School to Life
- Groups and self identity
- My adult self
- Role models – positive and negative
- Family and relationships
- Timelines
- Differences between school and work
Module 2: Media Influences
- Language of persuasion and manipulation
- Fake news
- Text and subtext in media
- Media and gender
- Media and body image
- Media, health and food marketing
- Gambling addiction
- Decision making based on what you see in the media
Module 3: Relationship Smart (Part 1)
- Self identity – what makes you ‘you’?
- Values in others
- Maturity
- Attraction vs Infatuation
- Smart Relationships
- Healthy Relationships
- Baggage
Module 4: Sex Education (Part 1)
- The reproductive system
- Puberty and changes to boys and girls
- Media and body image
- Sexting
- Human variation
- Fertility
- Conception
- Contraception
- Eating Disorders
Module 5: Drugs & Alcohol Education (Unplugged Part 2)
- Revisiting prior learning on drugs
- Verbal and non verbal communication
- Dangers of alcohol
- Social situations and drugs
- Where to get help
- Coping mechanisms
Module 6: Review & Connect
Lessons bring together aspects of prior learning:
- Mindfulness
- Resilience
- Drugs and Alcohol Education
- Sex Education
- Media Awareness
- Relationships
- Planning ahead for Year 9
Module 1: Alcohol Awareness (SHAHRP)
- Facts and Fiction around alcohol
- Alcohol and the body
- Dangers of drinking
- Alcohol and the media
- Alcohol and social life
- Peer group pressures
- How to have a safe night out
Module 2: Resilient Decisions
- Ambiguity, Complexity & Independent Thought
- Dilemmas and difficult decisions
- Practising ABCs and resilience
- Assertive Communication
- Impact of good and bad decisions
Module 3: Middle Years Programme Community Project
- Group work
- Community awareness
- Charitable causes
- Identifying need
- Service learning
Module 4: Middle Years Programme Community Project
- Reflection
- Presentation of project
- Analysis of productivity
Module 5: Sex Education (Part 2)
- Roles of hormones
- Consent and Control
- Sexual Harassment
- Sexual and Gender Identity
- Contraception
- STIs
- Sexting
Module 6: Relationship Smart (Part 2)
- Friendship
- Values
- Relationships
- Communication
- Handling Emotions
Module 1: Exploitation and Gangs
- Identifying Gang Culture
- Criminal Exploitation – how and why?
- Knife Crime
- Drugs, the dangers and the law
- County Lines
Module 2: Mental Illness Investigated
- Defining Mental Health
- Science of Mental Health
- Mental Illness Triggers
- Promoting Wellbeing
- Spotting and Supporting
- Healthy Coping Strategies
- Reducing Mental Health Stigma
Module 3: RE Based Learning
- The Big Bang & Origins of The Universe
- The Value of the World
- Pollution of the Environment
- Core Responses to Abuse of the Planet
- The use & abuse of Animals
Module 4: Parents Under Construction
- Introduction to Parenting
- Love, Money and Emotions
- Role Models, Learned Behaviour and Co-Parenting
- Parenting Budgets
- Budgeting for Adulthood
- Building Resilience in Parenting
Module 6: Exam Stress Busting
- Breathing
- Mindfulness
- Making a Revision Schedule
- Time Management
- Different Revision Techniques
- Mindmaps
Module 1: Communication
- Communicating with peers
- Communicating with staff
- Communicating with family
- How to resolve an issue
Module 2: Growth Mindset
- Self evaluation
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Focus on the mind
- Future planning
Module 3: Optimism
- Avoiding catastrophising
- Understanding your icebergs
- Evaluating difficult situations – ABCs
- Focus on positive mindsets
Module 4: Hope (Problem-Solving)
- Identifying barriers
- Clarifying the situation
- Working through possible solutions
- Evaluating success and areas for improvement
Module 5: Energy and Emotions
- Self worth
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Healthy Living
- Managing emotions
Module 6: Personal Strengths
- Planning for your future
- CVs
- Pathway to Year 13 and beyond
Module 1: Personal Resilience
- Overcoming difficulty
- Managing Stress
- Seeking help
- Giving help
Module 2: Navigating Uncertainty
- Planning an uncertain future
- Strategies for a change of direction
- Wobble