We teach scholars about the importance and benefits of healthy habits as part of our Personal, Social, Health and Economic syllabus, and promote physical activity, a balanced diet and self-care activities throughout the curriculum and school life.
Healthy eating
At Ark Greenwich Free School we value the importance of meal times. We are committed to provide a healthy and nutritious meal for every child alongside the experience of eating meals in a small group alongside adults. We have an onsite kitchen where all our meals are cooked fresh each day.
Mental health
We promote positive mental health for every scholar and member of staff, and have both a universal whole-school approach to mental health, together with specialised, targeted approaches for vulnerable students.
Scholars are educated about mental health and wellbeing through our character education programme during Drop Down Days, Family Dining and assemblies. We encourage scholars and staff to be organised with their work and prioritise time for wellbeing activities such as joining extra-curricular clubs, exercise and getting out and about. All scholars have access to support from their tutor and our targeted tutor time programme, after school interventions, and our pastoral and safeguarding team. Targeted support is given through bespoke interventions including mentoring, counselling, lego therapy and pastoral projects.
We also have close links with a range of external agencies such as CAMHS to ensure where needed, scholars get the appropriate level of support
Physical activity
Sport plays a central part in life at our Academy, helping our scholars to stay fit and healthy.
- Flexibility exercise. Scholar's become more agile when they are able to stretch and move their bodies in a full range of motion. Encouraging scholars to begin stretching in childhood can help them maintain limber physiques throughout life.
- Strength and stamina. Strength exercises can help scholars build healthy muscles. With an appropriately organised programme, scholars can advance their strength and stamina. Due to the age of pupils and risk of injury during growth spurts no weights will be used during strength classes; most workouts will focus on non-resistance training and developing stamina.
- Aerobic exercise. Cardiovascular training is an important component of scholar’s fitness, keeping their heart and lungs strong.
- Circuit training. Scholars can apply their strength and stamina, and develop greater levels of fitness through circuit training. Circuit training combines aerobic exercise, strength, stamina and flexibility.