wellness
Mindfulness in Schools: What Local Programs Are Available in Doncaster
With growing interest in student wellbeing, Doncaster schools are turning to mindfulness practices-here’s what’s on offer locally.
How we reported this
This term, pupils at Hall Cross Academy on Thorne Road started their mornings a little differently: instead of rushing straight into their lessons, many now spend ten minutes on guided mindfulness exercises in the classroom. These quiet moments, punctuated by deep breathing or gentle music, are becoming a regular feature across Doncaster’s education landscape as schools test new ways to support mental wellbeing.
The move comes against a backdrop of growing concern about anxiety and stress among children and teenagers in the UK. According to NHS Digital’s most recent Mental Health of Children and Young People in England report, released in November 2023, the proportion of children aged 7 to 16 with a probable mental disorder stood at 20.3%, a figure that has more than doubled over the past five years. Doncaster’s headteachers and parents have taken note, seeking practical strategies to create calmer classrooms and protect young people’s mental health.
Mindfulness from Intake to Bessacarr
Across the borough, two programs stand out. The Well Doncaster initiative, run in partnership with Doncaster Council and based out of premises near Bentley Library, has provided training and free resources to local primary schools since 2022. Their approach, called “Mindful Moments,” blends five-minute breathing routines with movement breaks before assemblies or after lunch, aiming to equip staff as well as students. Meanwhile, at Edenthorpe Hall Primary Academy, weekly ‘mindfulness circles’ are timetabled for every year group, led by a teaching assistant trained by The Mindfulness in Schools Project (MiSP), a national charity whose curriculum is now in use in several Doncaster schools including Kirk Sandall Junior on Church Balk and Town Field Primary near Hyde Park.
This push is not limited to primary schools. Doncaster College on Chappell Drive offers a drop-in lunchtime meditation space during term time, with guided sessions for students completing exams. Local yoga studios such as The Lotus Room in Frenchgate Shopping Centre have also noticed a rise in calls from teachers seeking affordable group training.
Evidence and Practical Support
Research into school-based mindfulness is encouraging. A 2022 analysis by University of Oxford’s MYRIAD project, which included more than 8,000 UK students aged 12-16, found that those taking part in regular in-class mindfulness activities reported lower levels of stress and improved focus compared to a control group. Locally, Well Doncaster says 14 primary schools across the borough took up their free ‘Mindful Moments’ materials during the last academic year, up from six in 2023. Some programs are supported by local grants: Well Doncaster’s staff training, for example, is offered at no cost to schools, while MiSP courses charged to schools typically cost between £85 and £150 per participant, depending on group size.
For parents and educators interested in learning more, Well Doncaster lists free resources on its website and offers regular public webinars. Doncaster libraries, including Central Library on Waterdale, stock mindfulness booklets for children and teaching packs on request. While these practices do not replace professional mental health care, local experts say regular short sessions can give children simple tools for managing daily pressures. As the new school year approaches in September, more Doncaster schools are expected to integrate mindfulness into their routines, making calm moments a fixture in the classroom alongside registers and reading books.