On 18th September, the school was delighted to welcome Old Birkonian, Carline Welsh, back to deliver a thought-provoking Nicholls Lecture to Year 11 and Sixth Form students. The session marked the launch of a new wellbeing initiative, further strengthening the school’s commitment to pastoral care.

As part of the lecture, Caroline Welsh, introduced students to Leafyard, a mental fitness platform independently validated by the Academic Department of Mental Health at King’s College London. Students were given the opportunity to access the platform on an opt-in basis and explore a wide range of evidence-based tools designed to support stress management, improve focus, and build resilience — skills that are particularly important during the critical GCSE and Sixth Form years. 

Leafyard offers short, practical video resources on managing emotions, developing confidence, and building sustainable wellbeing strategies. Already used by organisations including the NHS, the UK Armed Forces, and the University of Oxford, our school is proud to be the first school in the country to launch the programme. 

Speaking after the lecture, staff praised the initiative as an important step in supporting students’ mental fitness, encouraging them to take proactive steps towards building healthy habits for life.