Promoting health and wellbeing through holistic education

Middleton International School, an independent school in Singapore, blends health and wellbeing with academic rigour. Recognising the profound impact of mental and emotional wellbeing on academic success, the school has pioneered holistic education that embraces mindfulness, resilience, and emotional intelligence, setting a benchmark in SEL curriculum integration in Southeast Asia.

Established in 2017, Middleton educates 1,400 students from kindergarten to high school levels. At the core of the school's mission is a curriculum that fosters mindfulness, resilience, and emotional intelligence, involving structured wellbeing practices alongside academic subjects.

The collaboration with The Contentment Foundation is central to achieving an enriched educational experience. This initiative enhances students' and staff's mental and emotional health and supports broader goals like community wellbeing and inclusive education.

Middleton has dedicated leadership roles that include those of the Wellbeing Coordinator, Inclusive Education Coordinator, Pastoral Care Coordinator, Non-Academic Vice Principal and Senior Parent Liaison Manager, facilitating a system and culture that support and embody the school's ethos of wellbeing. Their efforts are evident in the successful integration of the SEL curriculum, making Middleton the flagship school for this approach in Southeast Asia.

Additional programmes at Middleton include international partnerships and community service projects, each contributing significantly to global citizenship and educational excellence. The success of these efforts has been evident in the improvements in the school’s OECD PISA scores.

Should Middleton International School win the World's Best School Prize for Supporting Healthy Lives, the school intends to use the prize to expand its impact by enhancing staff training, further advocacy for community wellbeing, and providing scholarships to ensure access to its transformative education, aiming to further integrate health and happiness into the fabric of educational success.