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The BrainWaves Curriculum

The BrainWaves Curriculum

A Free, Evidence-Based Mental Wellbeing Curriculum for Schools

BrainWaves offers a free mental wellbeing curriculum for secondary schools and sixth forms, grounded in the latest research on adolescent mental health and reviewed by experts at the University of Oxford.

Rooted in positive psychology, the programme empowers young people with practical strategies to manage their mental health and build optimism for change.

A Positive Psychology Approach to Wellbeing

The BrainWaves curriculum is grounded in the principles of positive psychology, notably the work of Martin Seligman, and the idea that ‘curing the negatives does not produce the positives’.

Rather than focusing solely on mental health disorders, BrainWaves emphasises the development of positive, preventative strategies that help young people strengthen their wellbeing and thrive. The curriculum supports students in understanding what promotes good mental health, alongside building the skills and habits that sustain it over time.

At the heart of the programme is the positive psychology PERMA model of wellbeing.

BrainWaves lessons are designed to encourage and develop each of its five core elements:

Positive Emotions

This strand focuses on developing positive mindsets, flexible thinking, and a sense of possibility. Students explore the relationship between happiness and wellbeing, learning how intentionally engaging in enjoyable activities and cultivating optimism can support mood regulation and emotional resilience.

Engagement

Within the PERMA model, engagement refers to being fully absorbed in activities that draw on personal strengths and skills. BrainWaves lessons help students understand the concept of “flow” and the role that focus, challenge, and interest play in supporting wellbeing.

Relationships

This strand highlights the central role of relationships in mental wellbeing. Students learn how investing in positive, supportive relationships can help them navigate life’s challenges, manage stress, and build a sense of connection and belonging.

Meaning

The meaning strand encourages students to reflect on purpose beyond themselves. Through guided activities, students explore how contributing to something larger, such as a cause, community, or shared goal, can foster a sense of meaning, wellbeing, and long-term fulfilment.

Accomplishments

Here, students examine how setting and working towards meaningful goals contribute to wellbeing. Lessons support students in identifying their personal strengths, building confidence, and developing the resilience needed to overcome setbacks and achieve what matters to them.

Brain and body

This strand explores the biological and physical factors that shape mental wellbeing. Through accessible, age-appropriate lessons, students learn how areas such as sleep, stress responses, and physical health influence emotions and behaviour, encouraging a more integrated understanding of mental health.

Mental health literacy

This strand focuses on building informed and critical engagement with mental health topics. Students learn how to interpret key concepts, assess the reliability of information, and navigate the wide range of mental health messages and resources they encounter in everyday life.

Visit BrainWaves Education

To access our classroom resources, please register for a free account our BrainWaves Education site.

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