Mindfulness in Schools: What Local Programs Are Available?

At Grey Court School on Ham Street, a group of year 8 pupils begins the day not with history or maths but with five minutes of guided breathing. These mindfulness exercises, now an established feature of the school’s Wellbeing Room, are part of a growing push to arm Richmond’s young people with tools to manage stress, boost focus and build emotional resilience.

Interest in mindfulness isn’t new, but its move into local schools marks a shift driven by concern over student wellbeing. The last three years have seen a sharp uptick in referrals to school counselling and mental health support services across the borough. With exam pressure and screen time rising, Richmond schools are searching for practical ways to help students regulate emotions and stay grounded-without adding another item to their already crowded curriculum.

Programs Across Richmond’s Schools

Grey Court is one of several Richmond institutions offering formal mindfulness training. At Richmond-upon-Thames School, students can take part in a termly Mindfulness for Teens group, run in partnership with Mind Richmond, the borough’s mental health charity on Sheen Road. The sessions, typically held after school in classroom 2.16, guide students through short meditations and body scans focused on easing anxiety.

Meanwhile, St. Mary’s Church of England Primary on Amyand Park Road has embedded the MindUP curriculum into its weekly lessons. This internationally recognised program teaches children about the brain and helps them develop a daily mindfulness habit using three-minute listening bells after lunchtime. The school’s website lists MindUP as part of its Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education from Key Stage 1 upward.

These aren’t isolated examples. According to Richmond Council’s Children’s Services department, at least 10 primary and four secondary schools in the borough hosted mindfulness-related activities during the past academic year, ranging from yoga mornings at Kew Riverside to mindful art at Orleans Park School in Twickenham.

What the Evidence Says-and What It Costs

The push toward mindfulness isn’t just driven by anecdote. Data from the British Psychological Society published in 2025 reports that regular mindfulness practice in children and teenagers can reduce symptoms of low mood and anxiety by up to 30%, when compared to control groups. For schools, costs vary: the MindUP curriculum, for example, charges £250 per school for digital resources and staff training. Some borough programs, like Mind Richmond’s after-school courses, are grant-funded and free to students from local state schools.

Nationally, the Department for Education’s 2024 guidance recognised mindfulness as an approved mental health intervention, encouraging schools to explore age-appropriate models. Richmond has seen a modest surge in applications for related grants: the council awarded five new Wellbeing Innovation grants to schools updating their mindfulness or mental health offerings during the past year.

Families interested in bringing more mindfulness into their children’s lives can ask their schools about available programs, or check resources at the Richmond Library on Little Green. Mind Richmond runs monthly free taster sessions for parents and children at its community hub near Richmond Station. As schools prepare for the next academic year, more are expected to launch pilot programs-potentially making mindful moments as much a part of the day as reading and numeracy across the borough by 2027.