19 February 2026
It has been a positive and purposeful start to the school year. Across the Junior School, boys have settled confidently into their new classes, established routines, set personal goals and begun forming new friendships. There is a noticeable sense of energy and optimism as classrooms take shape and a new year of learning unfolds.
As shared earlier this term, a calm and punctual start to each day plays a vital role in supporting both learning and wellbeing. Arriving on time allows boys to transition smoothly, greet their teacher and peers, organise their materials and begin the day feeling settled and ready to engage. These seemingly small routines build predictability and security – essential foundations for confidence and belonging. We deeply value our partnership with families in establishing consistent morning routines that help every boy start his day with purpose.
At St Peter’s College, wellbeing is not an “add-on” to learning — it is foundational to it. When boys feel safe, known and valued, they are far more willing to take appropriate risks in their learning, persevere through challenge and contribute positively to their community. Wellbeing shapes the tone of our classrooms, the interactions in our playgrounds and the culture of our School.
Throughout 2026, our explicit wellbeing lessons and embedded practices will continue to strengthen the knowledge, skills and dispositions boys need to flourish. Our focus areas include:
• Developing self-awareness and emotional regulation
• Building and sustaining positive relationships
• Practising self-care and healthy habits
• Strengthening help-seeking behaviours
These priorities are taught intentionally and practised daily. A Reception class might use a simple feelings scale to identify emotions before learning begins. Year 2 classes might start the day with a welcome circle. Year 3 boys may practise breathing techniques before a challenging task. In the upper years, students engage in guided conversations about managing disappointment, resolving friendship issues and setting purposeful goals. These practical strategies equip boys with lifelong tools to navigate challenge, success and change with resilience and perspective.
Our Junior School Wellbeing Framework is grounded in the principles of positive psychology, particularly the work of Martin Seligman and Lea Waters. This research-informed approach ensures wellbeing is explicitly taught, consistently modelled and visibly embedded across school life. We focus on developing character strengths, emotional management, attention and awareness, relationships, coping strategies, healthy habits and purposeful goal-setting — all aligned with our core values of truth, respect and service.
Strong friendships and meaningful social connections are central to a boy’s sense of belonging. We continue to embed the URStrong program across the Junior School, providing students with a shared language and practical tools to navigate friendships with confidence and kindness. Families have access to complimentary URStrong memberships, and I encourage you to explore these resources so that the same relational language and strategies are reinforced at home.
A strong partnership between school and home remains one of the most powerful protective factors in a child’s development. Open communication and shared understanding allow us to create a cohesive and supportive network around each boy. In 2026, SchoolTV will again be available via Keystone, offering expert-informed guidance on a range of contemporary wellbeing topics. Within the context of single-sex education, the Raising Boys resources provide particularly valuable insights as we work together to guide our boys towards positive role models and to nurture empathy, respect and healthy relationships.
As we look ahead, we do so with confidence and hope. Together, we are shaping boys who know themselves, care deeply for others and approach their learning with courage and integrity. By working in partnership, we will continue to cultivate a Junior School where every boy feels a strong sense of belonging, grows in character and capability, and experiences genuine joy in learning.
I look forward to partnering with you to make 2026 a year defined by purpose, connection and wellbeing for every boy in our care.
Ben Storer
Deputy Head of Junior School – Wellbeing and Administration
