Positive Education: More Than a Lesson on the Timetable at North London Collegiate School (Singapore)

SINGAPORE, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Learning to navigate disappointment, recognise strengths, build positive relationships and respond to challenges matters as much to a young person's development as anything taught in an academic lesson.

This year, North London Collegiate School (Singapore), or NLCS (Singapore) is piloting Positive Education across Junior and Middle School, giving students dedicated time to understand the science of wellbeing and to practise strategies that can support them at school and beyond.

Positive Education is more than a new subject. It is a whole-school approach to wellbeing, and it grows from a principle at the heart of our community: Everyone Matters.

"Positive Education is not simply about what students learn in a dedicated lesson, but about how those principles are lived and experienced throughout the school day. Our aim is to create a culture where wellbeing is embedded in everyday interactions, relationships and learning experiences, and where every member of our community plays a part", says Alexa George, Head of Upper School and Assistant Principal (Pastoral).

Understanding the Science of Wellbeing at North London Collegiate School (Singapore)

Positive Education is an educational philosophy that recognises wellbeing and academic learning as equally important aspects of a young person's education and development. Rooted in Positive Psychology, our approach to Positive Education draws upon established wellbeing frameworks, including the PERMA model of wellbeing, VIA Character Strengths, and the Positive Education Enhanced Curriculum (PEEC) developed by the Institute of Positive Education.

Through dedicated lessons, students explore character strengths, resilience, positive relationships, emotional awareness, thinking patterns, gratitude, mindfulness, meaning and accomplishment, and are encouraged to apply what they learn to real situations.

Positive Education isn't about expecting students to feel happy or positive all the time. It recognises that challenges, setbacks and difficult emotions are a natural part of life. Our aim is to help students develop self-awareness, confidence and practical strategies to navigate these experiences constructively, learn from them and develop greater resilience.

Taking Positive Education Beyond the Classroom

At NLCS (Singapore), student wellbeing is central to six interconnected areas of school life: joyful scholarship, leadership, global citizenship, enrichment, the arts and sport. Positive Education underpins our holistic approach, with a focus on wellbeing and character, helping to create a culture in which these are embedded in everyday teaching, learning, relationships and experiences. Rather than being confined to a weekly lesson, its principles shape how we support students, recognise their strengths, celebrate their achievements and empower them to navigate challenges with confidence and resilience.

For example, students might explore character strengths during a Positive Education lesson, before seeing those same strengths recognised through the school's merit system, reinforced in conversations with teachers and tutors, and connected to the IB Learner Profile. Over time, this helps establish a shared language and understanding of wellbeing across the school community. Students not only learn to recognise strengths such as perseverance, kindness, bravery and self-regulation in themselves and others, but also develop an understanding of how and when to draw upon these strengths in different situations.

Wellbeing and academic ambition are seen as mutually reinforcing. Just as we are intentional about developing students academically, we must be equally intentional about nurturing their wellbeing. When students feel safe, connected, supported and understood, they are better placed to engage fully in their learning, embrace challenges and fulfil their potential. It is this foundation that allows joyful scholarship and personal growth to flourish.

Preparing Students Before Challenges Arise

While supporting young people when difficulties arise remains essential, Positive Education takes a proactive and preventative approach to wellbeing. By providing dedicated opportunities for students to develop self-awareness, understand their character strengths, build positive relationships and learn practical strategies for navigating challenges, we aim to equip them with the skills and confidence to flourish, both during their school years and throughout their lives.

Our longer-term vision is a school culture where these principles are part of everyday life, helping students grow into confident, curious, compassionate and resilient young people who know themselves, understand others and are ready to make a difference.

Positive Education has a place on the timetable, but its purpose reaches well beyond it: a community where wellbeing and learning work together, and where Everyone Matters.

About North London Collegiate School (Singapore)

Founded in August 2020, North London Collegiate School (Singapore) is a British International School offering the academically ambitious NLCS curriculum, followed by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme and culminating in the IB Diploma Programme. 

Drawing on 175 years of educational heritage from its founding school in the UK, NLCS (Singapore) nurtures individuals to be intellectually curious, socially confident, and grounded in compassion through a rigorous academic framework, rich co-curricular opportunities, and exceptional pastoral care.

Situated on Depot Road, the school is part of a global family of schools committed to educational excellence and developing global citizens.

To learn more about NLCS (Singapore), please visit our website (https://nlcssingapore.sg/) and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE North London Collegiate School (Singapore)