A unique life skills programme for first-year students at the Sixth Form College Birkenhead has reached its halfway point – and students are already feeling the benefits.

Devised by two psychology teachers at the college, Roy Owen and Amanda Hoey, and deputy principal Mike Kilbride, the BePART (Be Positive, Ambitious, Resilient, Thoughtful) course looks at methods to improve mental health and wellbeing in teenagers.

The six-week programme focusses on the importance of sleep and diet, challenging negative thoughts, and mindfulness – a form of meditation.

Students who joined the Wirral-based college in September have now had three sessions and several are already reporting an increase in their overall wellbeing.

Sixteen-year-old Eleanor Adams, who studies biology, chemistry, English literature and maths at the college, said: “I’ve found it really therapeutic. It’s helped me with stress levels and eating habits, and made me take a step back and assess what I’m doing, which makes things a lot easier and calmer.”

“This kind of programme is so important. You may have the ability to get good grades but you’re never going to achieve that if you’re burnt out.”

 

Featured picture: (L-R) Psychology teacher Roy Owen, head girl Emily Wagstaff, head boy Louis Earley, psychology teacher Amanda Hoey