Want to place wellbeing at the heart of education?

Positive Education

Geelong, Australia

Geelong Grammar School has pioneered a school-wide approach to student and staff wellbeing known as Positive Education. Based on the science of Positive Psychology, Positive Education aims to enable individuals and communities to flourish. GGS continues to share its journey and has assisted over 1000 schools throughout Australia and the world.

Character Education, Empathy, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Wellbeing, Whole-school Model, Holistic, Psychology

Introduction

Introduction Media Milestones Map

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Introduction

What is Positive Education?

“The beauty of this is the innovation lies in rediscovering and re-learning what the true purpose of education is. We are reintegrating what the great philosophers of the past knew - the wisdom that has become lost, to some extent, in modern education systems. What was once thought of as 'being good' is now being confirmed by science which is what makes it so exciting.”

Charlie Scudamore, VP of Geelong Grammar School

Nearly a quarter of Australian youth have anxiety, affective or substance use disorders, and a variety of other mental illnesses. The issue is not limited to Australia, the world faces a challenge which requires a global approach because the World Health Organization predicts that by 2030, depression will be the highest contributor to global disease.

In addition to mental health prevalence, if we consider what we want most for our children and fellow humans, characteristics outlines by Martin Seligman come to mind: happiness, confidence, contentment, fullfillment, balance, kindness, health, satisfation, and love. Wellbeing must be at the center of education - not on the periphery. Substantial evidence shows that students can successfully learn skills to increase resilience, positive emotion, relationships, engagement, and meaning.

Positive Education was pioneered at Geelong Grammar School as a school-wide approach to promote student and staff wellbeing. Based on the science of Positive Psychology, Positive Education aims to enable individuals and communities to flourish.

The GGS Model for Positive Education is a framework that helps schools flourish my emphasizing: Positive Relationships, Positive Emotions, Positive Health, Positive Engagement, Positive Accomplishment, and Positive Purpose. The framework comes to life at the school on four levels, described as 'learn it,' 'live it,' 'teach it,' and 'embed it.'

From the outset, GGS has prioritized student and staff wellbeing through transformational educational programs, and through innovation and research in the field of Positive Education.

Innovation Overview

ALL

Target Group

Children/Users

Countries

2008

Established

Organisation

4 590

Views

Focus areas

Character Education, Empathy, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Wellbeing, Whole-school Model, Holistic, Psychology

Tips for implementation

Any teacher can immediately implement these principles into their teaching. For lasting, sustainable school-wide change, all members of the community, teachers, administration, support staff, parents, and students must be involved. Teachers can learn from the Positive Education Institute which offers a range of training courses for schools around Australia and the world.

Contact information

Charlie Scudamore

Australia

HundrED Review

Innovativeness

The beauty in this innovation lies in rediscovering and re-learning what the true purpose of education is. Wellbeing is essential to making teachers, staff, students, and parents happy and well-educated.

Impact

The field of positive schooling, is a growing area of research, with centres such as the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania. The International Positive Education Network report demonstrates the wide scale impact.

Scalability

Principles of Positive Education are being used across the globe in Australia, UK, US, Singapore, China, India, Mexico, Bhutan, Peru, Spain, South Korea, New Zealand, Macedonia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Media