Pupils and parents alike benefited from our September PSHE dropdown sessions focusing on topics ranging from professional anxiety and burnout to online relationships.
Wednesday Sep 17th marked the beginning of our PSHE dropdown sessions, where the normal timetable is collapsed for one lesson to allow a more dedicated focus on PSHE.
Our half term theme for Seniors is mental health and we were joined by Steven Reid, a former footballer with several Premiership sides and a regular international for Ireland and now a trained counsellor with a special interest in personal autonomy and overall well-being. Mr Reid ran two sessions, one with our 6th Formers and one with 14s and 15s. He spoke eloquently and honestly about the personal challenges - including anxiety and burnout - he faced during his career, as well as the highs he enjoyed representing club and country, playing and coaching, as a high level sporting pro.
11s and 13s took part in sessions from Augusta Samuel, one of the ItHappens Team, who spoke with them about 'online relationships' and 'harm reduction', respectively. ItHappens are longstanding PSHE partners of Harrodian and their sessions are always thoroughly researched and pitched appropriately, Wednesday being no exception.
For the 12s, Roxy Longworth and her mother, Gay, spoke about what happened to Roxy when, at the age of 13, she was coerced into sending intimate photos of herself to older boys at her school. The pupils listened attentively and then asked the most brilliant questions during Q&A.
Roxy and Gay then spoke with parents in the auditorium, including about her charity 'Behind our Screens'. We greatly appreciate those who were able to attend and hear from a survivor and now prominent campaigner on online safety. Roxy is truly inspiring, a role model and testament to the power of resilience and the drive for making a better world.
To learn more, Roxy's website is here: www.behindourscreens.co.uk