The Resilience Reaps Rewards programme, led by Andy Instone, founder of Urban Strides and choreographer from the amazing Young Voices events, is a whole-school approach designed to strengthen resilience, wellbeing and learning behaviours across the entire school community. Rooted in research from neuroscience, psychology and wellbeing, the programme translates complex theory into practical, everyday strategies that can be embedded into our classrooms and RAF Benson school life. 

At its core, the programme is built around the belief that resilience is not an innate trait but a set of skills that can be developed through consistent practice and positive experiences. Delivered as a structured, long-term initiative, often spanning a full academic year, it engages our staff, children and families together, creating a shared language and ethos. This collective approach is particularly powerful, as it ensures consistency in expectations, reinforcement and support and helps resilience become embedded within the culture rather than treated as a one-off intervention. 

For our children, the impact of the programme is both immediate and long-term. Children are taught practical strategies to help them manage emotions, remain focused, and approach challenges with confidence. These include techniques to improve concentration, build perseverance and develop a “can-do” mindset, as well as simple wellbeing practices to regulate any anxiety and support emotional awareness. As a result, our children become more engaged in their learning, develop a stronger sense of self-belief and are better equipped to cope with setbacks – especially important when their educational journey may involve attending more than one school! Our children not only feel happier and are more motivated to learn, but also demonstrate improved focus, behaviour and readiness to learn. 

The programme also has a significant impact on our staff team. Through training and ongoing professional development, our teachers and support staff gain practical tools to create optimal learning environments and respond effectively to children's emotional and behavioural needs. This leads to more productive classrooms, improved relationships and a greater sense of professional confidence. Staff are not passive recipients; they actively experience the techniques themselves, which enhances their understanding and strengthens their ability to model resilience for pupils. This shared experience helps build a cohesive team culture where everyone is working towards the same goals. 

At a whole-school level, Resilience Reaps Rewards contributes to a positive shift in culture, and we have seen and felt this here at RAF Benson too!  Over time, the programme creates a more supportive and aspirational environment in which children feel safe to take risks, learn from mistakes and celebrate success. Schools often report stronger relationships, improved behaviour and a more unified sense of purpose across their community.

More information is on the Urban Stride website page https://urbanstrides.com/in-schools/inset-resilience-reaps-rewards/