Somersfield Academy pupils are learning social and emotional skills as a result of a new partnership driven by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mightifier, a Finnish social-emotional learning and character development programme, teamed up with the school to create a curriculum that aims to create a “strength-driven learning culture”.

The collaboration includes staff training sessions, Mightifier’s programme for weekly lesson plans and the creation of positive character profiles.

The organisation said that Covid-19 has spurred the need to create a more nurturing and appreciative culture in schools as stress and anxiety affected pupils and teachers.

Mervi Pänkäläinen, the chief executive of Mightifier, said: “We are very excited about this partnership with Somersfield Academy.

“Particularly, our team has been impressed at their whole school approach and the time commitment they have made to ensure the impact of this work. They see the value of every single staff member as a role model for their students and hence the need to work on their wellbeing and the school culture first.”

Peter Howe, the principal of Somersfield Academy, added: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Mightifier in enhancing the social and emotional learning of our students and staff at Somersfield.

“What the pandemic has underscored is that wellbeing is everything in establishing an effective learning environment and we are very excited about the potential of the Mightifier programme to make deliberate what we have been doing in a more informal manner for years. We place the student at the centre of all that we do and the Mightifier team does as well.”

The curriculum begins from early education and has been shown to have a positive impact on the emotional well being of pupils.

A study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development from September 2021 said: “The benefits of developing children’s social and emotional skills go beyond cognitive development and academic outcomes; they are also important drivers of mental health and labour market prospects.

“Social and emotional skills are an essential developmental outcome. The ability of citizens to adapt, be resourceful, respect and work well with others, and take personal and collective responsibility is increasingly becoming the hallmark of a well-functioning society.”