Nourishing every student’s wellbeing is foundational for our close-knit Boarding cohort of around 120 boarders. We embed wellbeing into the fabric of school and boarding life, integrating structured socio-emotional learning and intentional everyday interactions that support joy. Ascham provides both boarders and day girls with practical tools to navigate the challenges of adolescence with resilience and self-awareness.
‘Wellbeing for Learning’ is always a key focus so that our boarders can thrive academically, no matter their age and stage of their school journey, nor where they have come from to board at Ascham.
Sunday Circles is our program that runs alongside the nightly Boarders’ Prep schedule and focuses on key areas of mindfulness, emotional regulation, healthy friendships, confidence, stress management, positive body image and self-trust. It is an enriching opportunity for our boarders’ experience, supporting them in becoming confident, self-aware and resilient young women.
Framed around the book Circle Solutions for Student Wellbeing by Sue Roffey, each session combines facilitator-guided activities, reflective journaling and Q&A exercises, enabling the girls to explore their thoughts and feelings in a safe, supportive environment. Topics such as managing conflict, understanding intuition and building positive self-talk are included to empower students to make thoughtful choices in their daily lives.
In the first part of their Year 7 year, our boarders also experience the Amica program, led by our Head of Wellbeing. The girls participate in a range of activities to promote positive connections through discussions, icebreakers and team-building games. Each activity required students to draw upon key communication skills and teamwork to share experiences and get to know each other better.
We continually grow and expand our fantastic Wellbeing programs for our boarders. Sunday Circles was initially created for Year 7s, but its enormous success means we have now expanded it to Years 8 and 9 for 2026.
Boarding at Ascham is your place to live, learn and lead. Discover more about Boarding at Ascham here.
