Positive Education at Macau Anglican College.

The State of Positive Education

Positive Education is a whole-school approach to student and staff well-being: it brings together the science of positive psychology with best-practice teaching, encouraging and supporting individuals and communities to flourish.

In consultation with world experts in positive psychology and based on Seligman’s PERMA approach, Macau Anglican College has adapted the Institute of Positive Education’s Model Framework to complement traditional learning – this applied framework comprises six domains: Positive Relationships, Positive Emotions, Positive Health, Positive Engagement, Positive Accomplishment, and Positive Purpose, each of which helps to promote both wellbeing and academic excellence.

Why do schools need Positive Education?

In recent years, depression and mental health issues in young people have grown in both frequency and intensity (Seligman, 2018; White and Murray, 2015); sadly, Macau is no exception. This mental health crisis represents a substantial impact on not only the families and teachers of young people, but also on governments, institutions and society at large (White and Murray, 2015).

Schools such as ours are situated at the centre of this crisis and evidence suggests that the role of schools is critical in buffering young people against mental health problems (Seligman, Ernst, Gillham, Reivich and Linkins, 2009). Therefore, it is essential that we as educators understand how to develop the enabling conditions for a life in which all young people can flourish (Seligman et al., 2018).

We at Macau Anglican College have made a firm commitment to meet these needs head on, and by choosing to embrace Positive Education we aim to ensure that all children thrive in all aspects of their lives.

What are we doing at Macau Anglican College to foster Well-being in our students?

At Macau Anglican College we have devised an in depth ‘Roadmap’, or strategic plan, that outlines ‘where we are’ and ‘how we intend to grow’ as a Positive Institution over the coming years. Our implementation of Positive Education is grounded in the ‘Learn, Live, Teach and Embed’ approach.

This method incorporates all aspects of the school, ranging from sequential, developmental curricula to the reshaping of cultural norms and administrative processes. Our aim is to improve the well-being of all and to support those who need the help.

These are truly exciting times for us and our school community as the first impacts of Positive Education are being felt by our students and staff.