A Circle Approach to Boosting Emotional Wellbeing and Relationships in the Secondary School by Mosley, Jenny; Tew, Marilyn;

Short description:

This resource presents Jenny Mosley's acclaimed Circle Time model adapted for secondary education, offering acompassionate approach to rebuilding connection among teenagers.This essential guide is invaluable for heads of year, form tutors, and classroom teachers committed to nurturing academic achievement and emotional development. 

Long description:

This timely resource presents Jenny Mosley's acclaimed Circle Time model specifically adapted for secondary education, offering a structured, powerful and compassionate approach to rebuilding human connection among teenagers. In an era of increasing digital isolation and mental health challenges, Mosley provides educators with practical tools to create spaces where students feel truly seen, heard, and valued. 

Building on decades of pioneering work in both primary and secondary schools, inside this book, you will find:  

• A complete framework for implementing Circle Time in secondary settings—from Year 7 through to Year 11.  

• Practical, age-appropriate activities, games, and discussion prompts that engage even the most reluctant teenagers.  

• Behaviour strategies rooted in restorative practice—helping students take responsibility and rebuild relationships.  

• Tools to build a positive school ethos, improve classroom climate, and boost mental health and motivation.  

• Real-life examples and success stories that show the power of Circle Time in action—from disengaged teens becoming peer mentors to entire year groups forming tighter bonds.  

Endorsed by empirical research which links social-emotional learning to academic success, the approach balances emotional literacy with practical skill development. Jenny Mosley doesn’t just offer a programme—she offers a philosophy: one where students are not just taught but truly seen, where emotional literacy is not a luxury but a necessity, and where schools become safe spaces for teenagers to grow into capable, compassionate adults.  

This essential guide is invaluable for heads of year, form tutors, PSHE leads, and classroom teachers committed to nurturing both academic achievement and emotional development. School counselors, educational psychologists, and wellbeing coordinators will also find practical strategies they can immediately implement to support teenagers in developing the communication skills and emotional resilience needed to thrive in today's complex world. 

“Jenny Mosley’s deep insights into relational practices in school matter more than ever… I have to say that the overarching focus on kindness adds a distinctive depth to the work… perhaps, most importantly to me, this thoroughly revised edition orients the reader to the collective… and she encourage us to be flexible and responsive in nurturing the strengths within our communities.”

- Robin Banerjee, Professor of Developmental Psychology and Founder of the Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness, University of Sussex

Table of Contents:

Part 1: The Circle Time Vision  1. Why Do We So Desperately Need Circle-Time Now?  2. Circle Approaches in Action  3. Circle-Time and the Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL)  4. The Circle Time Approach and Ofsted  5. The Whole-School Quality Circle Time approach: Introducing an ecosystemic model  6. Unlocking the Whole-School Quality Circle Time Model for Wellbeing  Part 2: Putting Circle Time into Practice  7. Setting Up Three Listening Systems  8. Establishing Codes of Conduct- are they Clear, Kind and Consistent?  9. Creating and Embedding Incenstives- are they Kind, Considerate and Community-based?  10. Creating and Implementing Consequences- are they Fair and Feasible?  11. Setting up Lunchtimes that Enhance Wellbeing  12. Supporting Dysregulated Pupils  13. The Containment Stage of How do we Cope When Nothing Works?  14. Achieving the Biggest Impact with Circle Time  Part 3: Activities, games and resources  15. The Five Step Structure of Quality Circle-Time  16. Glimpses of Circle Time Practice through case studies  17. Introduction to Circle Plans  18. Game Ideas for Step One and Step Four  19. Step Two- Rounds  20. Step Three- Open Forum Dramas and Role-play Ideas  21. Step Five- Calm Down Ideas