Church Hill Middle School has brought new life to an overgrown, unused courtyard by transforming it into a calm, welcoming wellbeing garden for pupils.
Using a Worcestershire County Council Public Health grant, the school set out to create a central space where children could take time out, read, reflect and connect with others and the result has already made a meaningful difference to daily school life.
The redesigned courtyard now includes group benches to encourage positive communication and peer support, planters that help pupils learn responsibility through nurturing plants, and garden games that promote teamwork and enjoyment.
An edged nature area also provides a quiet corner for relaxation and helps pupils develop a sense of care for the environment. For many children, the space has quickly become a valued alternative to the main playground, especially at lunchtime when noise and busy crowds can feel overwhelming. The garden offers a calmer environment where pupils can reset, spend time with friends or simply enjoy a moment of peace.
A group of SEND pupils played a key role in creating the garden, working alongside their parents and carers as part of an after‑school wellbeing club. Their involvement has strengthened the connection between home and school, giving families a shared project to take pride in and helping pupils feel ownership over the space they helped to build.
To brighten the courtyard further, the school ran a mural design competition, inviting pupils to submit artwork for the surrounding walls. With support from a local sign maker, the winning design is now being brought to life, adding colour and creativity to what was once a plain brick area.
Staff say the project has already had a positive impact on pupils’ wellbeing, giving them a dedicated space to unwind and supporting a more nurturing school environment. Have an idea to boost wellbeing at your school? You can apply for a Public Health grant here: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/communitygrants