wellness
Hackney Schools Launch Mindfulness Programs This Autumn Term
Hackney primary and secondary schools roll out structured meditation sessions starting this autumn term.
How we reported this
Three Hackney schools began a new round of mindfulness training this week for pupils aged seven to 14.
Mental health services across the borough recorded a 22 percent rise in referrals for children between 2023 and 2025, according to NHS North East London figures released last month. Schools are responding by embedding short daily practices rather than waiting for external support to catch up.
Named programmes on offer
At The Urswick School on Queensbridge Road the Mindful Minds after-school club meets every Tuesday from 3.30 pm to 4.15 pm. Sessions use breathing exercises and body scans led by two trained teaching assistants. Across the borough at London Fields Primary on Westgate Street, staff run a ten-minute guided practice at the start of every afternoon lesson for Years 3 to 6. Both programmes draw on materials from the UK Mindfulness in Schools Project and are free for enrolled pupils.
Parents living near Stoke Newington can also access a Saturday drop-in at the Clissold Leisure Centre on Clissold Road, where trained volunteers run family meditation workshops priced at £3 per child.
Evidence and costs
Hackney Council allocated £87,000 in March 2026 to train 48 teachers across 12 schools, with the first cohort completing their certification on 28 June. A 2025 evaluation by the same council showed that classes using daily mindfulness recorded an average 11 percent drop in reported low-level disruption over one term.
Families wanting to join can register through each school’s parent portal or by emailing the Hackney Education Wellbeing Team before the end of July. Places on the Clissold weekend sessions are limited and fill within days of announcement.