Mindfulness in Schools: What Local Programs Are Available in Bristol?

Mindfulness meditation sessions are being included in the school day at an unprecedented number of Bristol primaries and secondaries this term, with new data from Bristol City Council showing at least 20 schools now running structured wellbeing programs for their pupils.

A sharp rise in recorded anxiety among young people in 2025 prompted the city’s education leaders to prioritise mental health initiatives. NHS figures reveal that almost one in six 5-16 year olds in South West England reported probable mental health disorders last year. After record attendance rates at Bristol Mind’s community taster courses, school leaders began piloting similar activities within classrooms to help children manage stress, attention and emotional challenges.

From Redland to Knowle: Mindfulness in the Curriculum

Redland Green School on Redland Court Road and Easton CE Academy on Easton Road are among those expanding their weekly mindfulness slots. Redland Green’s Head of PSHE, Sophie M., confirmed Year 8 classes have had ten-minute guided breathing or body-scan meditations embedded into Tuesday assemblies since April. In Knowle, Oasis Academy John Williams has adopted the MindUP curriculum – a structured, science-based mindfulness program backed by the Goldie Hawn Foundation – for all Year 7 students starting September. The program includes teacher training, classroom scripts and take-home activities, funded by a £7,000 grant from Bristol City Council’s Health and Wellbeing Fund.

Meanwhile, the Bristol Mindfulness in Schools Project—run from a base off Gloucester Road in Bishopston—has seen demand double since last summer. The project’s staff now visit Hillcrest Primary and St Werburgh’s Primary each term, bringing in guided sessions on focused breathing, mindful eating (sometimes with locally produced chocolate buttons from Zara’s Chocolates of North Street) and awareness walks around their playgrounds.

What the Numbers Say

The cost to schools can vary widely. The Mindfulness in Schools Project offers blocks of 8 sessions for classes (up to 30 children) at £350 per term. Larger secondary schools have invested in full-days of staff workshops for up to 60 teachers at rates of about £800. According to the Anna Freud Centre, which tracks school-based mental health initiatives, 43% of Bristol schools reported including some form of mindfulness or meditation by the end of 2025. But access is uneven: as of June 2026, only a handful of state primary schools in Southmead and Hartcliffe have dedicated programs. ',

Early findings from a University of Bristol pilot last autumn suggest that schools running mindfulness sessions see a 25% improvement in self-reported student focus within eight weeks of weekly practice. Attendance rates also rose fractionally at those sites, as tracked between October and December 2025.

Finding a Program and What Comes Next

For families interested in mindfulness for children, Bristol Mind (based on Old Market Street) continues to run low-cost after-school drop-in classes from £4 per session with concession rates. Schools can apply for Health and Wellbeing Fund grants again from September, with priority given to those in less affluent wards. Looking ahead, Bristol City Council is expected to release its new “Whole School Wellbeing” strategy before October half-term, aiming to double the uptake of classroom mindfulness sessions by the end of 2027.

Parents seeking to advocate for more mindfulness in their local school can raise the subject at parent forums or propose a pilot session through the school office. For children or teens already struggling with anxiety or focus, local GPs continue to recommend both mindfulness and traditional talking therapies. As always, families are urged to consult their own health professionals for advice specific to their child’s situation.