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Wellington College has long placed wellbeing at the heart of school life. In 2006, it became the first school in the UK to introduce a dedicated course in happiness and wellbeing, a bold and pioneering step that sparked significant interest both nationally and internationally. Nearly two decades on, that commitment remains as strong as ever, with a clear and enduring aim: to promote the flourishing and excellence of every student in our care.
To shape the next chapter of this journey and ensure Wellington continues to lead in this space, the College welcomed Mike Wyndham as Head of Wellness and Physical Fitness in April 2025. His role strengthens an already well-established foundation, bringing together the many strands of wellbeing across the College while driving a culture of continual improvement, recognising that there is always more we can do to better support our students.
Since joining, Mike has worked closely with Housemasters, pastoral teams and sports staff to develop a range of initiatives that support both physical and mental health. A strong emphasis has been placed on improving students’ understanding of nutrition, alongside meaningful changes to the food environment. This has included close collaboration with Sodexo and invaluable work with the parent tuck shop volunteers committee to reduce sugar and ultra‑processed foods, while increasing access to healthier, more balanced options across the College.
Alongside this, there has been a major focus on education around screen time and digital habits, helping students understand the impact prolonged screen use and social media can have on sleep, attention, mood and overall wellbeing. Through talks, workshops and daily conversations, pupils are encouraged to develop healthier relationships with technology, recognise when screen use is unhelpful, and build greater awareness of how digital choices affect both performance and mental health.
Opportunities for inclusive movement and confidence‑building have also expanded significantly. These include gym literacy sessions, a girls’ strength programme, the reopening of the outdoor gym, and the introduction of a fully marked 5km cross‑country trail, all designed to lower barriers to participation and promote lifelong physical activity.
Engagement has been further enhanced through initiatives such as the popular ‘Maniacs’ cold plunge and early morning run, which encourage positive habits, shared challenge and connection. The introduction of the world-renowned TJ Power’s DOSE framework (Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins) has also given pupils a simple, practical way to understand how daily behaviours from movement and sleep to connection and screen use directly influence their wellbeing.
This work has been recognised through a nomination for the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) Award for Wellbeing and Mental Health, with winners to be announced on 5 May.
Looking ahead, plans are being explored to introduce the DOSE framework for parents, further supporting consistency between home and school. Ongoing work with Sodexo will also focus on enhancing the Sixth Form nutrition offering, helping students make informed, independent choices as they prepare for life beyond Wellington. Further details will be shared in due course.
