We Educate And
Empower Students
To Live Mentally
Healthy Lifestyles

We teach students six positive strategies to look after their mental health, and help schools embed them into everyday school life, so students don't just learn them, they live them.

View Our Programmes

A full school auditorium during a Simple Six presentation on Sweat

The Simple Six

Six everyday actions to look after your mental health.

Our Programmes

A Simple Six Day or our Sixth Form Programme, with the School Portal included.

The Problem

Youth mental health in England is getting worse, and fast

Children and young people in England with a probable mental disorder Ages 8 to 16Ages 17 to 19

See the figures

Year	Ages 8 to 16	Ages 17 to 19
2017	12.5%	10.1%
2020	17.1%	17.7%
2021	17.7%	17.4%
2022	19.0%	25.7%
2023	20.3%	23.3%

Source: NHS England, Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2023 (wave 4). No survey ran in 2018 or 2019, so the dashed line joins 2017 and 2020.

1 in 5
children aged 8 to 16 had a probable mental disorder in 2023, up from 1 in 8 in 2017.
23.3%
of 17 to 19 year olds had a probable mental disorder in 2023, more than double the 10.1% in 2017.
1,048,965
children had an active referral to NHS children's mental health services in 2024–25, almost double the number in 2018–19.
Children's Commissioner for England, 2026

The Current
Approach

More money, more treatment and more awareness than ever before

More money
£1.1bn
spent on NHS mental health services for children and young people in 2024–25.Children's Commissioner for England, 2026
More treatment
863,472
under-18s in contact with NHS mental health services in a year, up from 513,964 before the NHS Long Term Plan.NHS England, Q3 2025–26
More awareness
Since 2020
mental wellbeing has been a compulsory part of health education in every state-funded school in England.Department for Education

All of this is important. Yet mental health rates have kept rising.

The Missing
Piece

Lifestyle

Despite more support, awareness and treatment, young people's everyday lifestyles are working against their mental health.

Look at a typical school day

We talk about the importance of youth mental health. More money has gone into mental health support, and mental wellbeing is now a compulsory part of the curriculum.

Yet in many schools, a student's day still looks like this.

7:00Wakes up after too little sleep, often after a late night on their phone
8:30Travels to school, often with little daylight in winter
9:00Sits in lessons indoors for most of the day
BreakBreak and lunch indoors, often on their phone
All dayLittle or no exercise beyond timetabled PE
All yearHigh pressure for results, from mocks to GCSEs and A levels

Stress74%
of 15-year-old girls in England feel pressured by schoolwork (63% of boys), the third highest of 45 countries.WHO HBSC study, 2017–18
MovementOver half
of children and young people don't get an average of 60 active minutes a day.Sport England, 2024–25
Sleep38%
of 8 to 16 year olds had trouble sleeping on three or more nights in the past week.NHS England, 2023
Screen time4 hours
a day online, on average, for 13 and 14 year olds.Ofcom, 2025
Time outdoorsUnder half
of 8 to 15 year olds spend time in outdoor spaces other than their garden on most days (43%).Natural England, 2025
Connection1 in 20
young people in England have no close friends, five times as many as in 2014.IPPR, 2026

Our brains didn't evolve to spend our days inactive, isolated, sleep-deprived, stressed and indoors.

Daily exercise, managing stress, high-quality sleep, regular sunlight and human connection are all positive for mental health. For many young people, they're missing from everyday life.

Our
Approach

Lifestyle is the key

At Simple Six Education, we focus on prevention, by teaching young people in schools how to live mentally healthy lifestyles. Our approach is simple: we teach six positive strategies to look after mental health, and embed them into everyday school life, so students learn not only what to do, but actually do it. They live it.

Part 1EducateWe teach students six positive strategies to look after their mental health: the Simple Six. Part 2EmbedWe help schools build the Simple Six into everyday school life, so students don't just learn what to do, they live it.

Part 1Educate

Six simple strategies every student can learn by heart

Every student learns six positive actions to look after their mental health. They form a shared language across the school, used by students and staff in lessons, in corridors and at home.

The Simple Six

Stress Break
Take moments to decompress
Short pauses to breathe, stretch or step away before stress builds up.
Sweat
15+ minutes of exercise a day
Enjoyable movement that lifts mood, eases stress and sharpens focus.
Sleep
8+ hours each night
The foundation for mood, memory and exam performance.
Sunlight
30+ minutes outdoors a day
Daylight sets the body clock, lifts mood and improves sleep.
Socialise
People over platforms
Real time with real people protects against low mood.
Speak Up
Talk to someone when feeling low
Talking to someone early stops small struggles from growing.

What to do to stay consistentSimplify the action.

What to do when you're strugglingStart a positive action.

Introduced in a Simple Six Day or the Sixth Form Programme
Reinforced with short lessons, perfect for PSHE
Modelled by teachers in class and around school
On posters, pocket cards and phone lock screens

Part 2Embed

The Simple Six, built into everyday school life

Students spend more than six hours a day at school, so we help schools embed each of the Simple Six into the school environment, making the healthy choice the easy one and helping students live a more mentally healthy lifestyle every day.

The Simple SixRecommendations on how schools could embed it

Stress BreakTake moments to decompress
A named stress-break space, with someone there to talk to
Short breaks built into long lessons and exam prep
Sweat15+ minutes of exercise a day
A 10–15 minute walk or movement break in tutor time
Daily movement in the timetable, on top of PE
Sleep8+ hours each night
Free Simple Six alarm clocks, so phones charge outside the bedroom
Homework and exam timetables that avoid late nights
Sunlight30+ minutes outdoors a day
Outside first at break and lunch whenever it's dry
Outdoor seating and shelter, and outdoor lessons where they work
SocialisePeople over platforms
Make school a phone-free place
One community board listing every club and group, making discovery and joining easy
Speak UpTalk to someone when feeling low
Posters in every classroom and corridor showing who to talk to, with names and photos
Sixth formers talking openly about mental health in assemblies

We make embedding the Simple Six in your school as simple as possible

Step 1
Book
Book either a Simple Six Day or our Sixth Form Programme, or start with a discovery call to talk through the 2 options.
Step 2
Sign up
Upon booking, the organising staff member signs up and gets full access to the School Portal and kit for your school.
Step 3
Colleagues sign in
Anyone with your school's email address can sign in to the School Portal, and read and use every resource.
Step 4
Follow the guide
A step-by-step implementation guide, lesson plans, slides, printable posters, pocket cards and lock screens.
Step 5
Launch
Launch the Simple Six with your Simple Six Day or Sixth Form Programme.
Step 6
Embed
Put up the posters around your school, and use our guide to build the Simple Six into the school day.

Every school that books a Simple Six Day or our Sixth Form Programme gets everything in the Simple Six School Portal, included for FREE

The implementation guide, lesson plans, slides, printable resources, pocket cards and lock screens, the assembly script and our embedding recommendations.

View Our Programme Options

Our Mission

Every student in the UK leaves school knowing the Simple Six by heart, and having lived them every day.

So they step into adult life knowing how to look after their mental health, and more likely to live a mentally healthy lifestyle.

A shared language for mental health

Just as everyone in London understands “See it. Say it. Sorted.”, we want every young person in the UK to grow up knowing the Simple Six: learned at school, used every day and remembered for life.

Simple to rememberSix everyday actions, easy to memorise.
PracticalThings students can do today, at school and at home.
Useful for lifeThe same six actions help at 12, at 18 and at 40.

Our Track
Record

Developed by breakingFree and refined over 13 years of delivering mental health programmes across Australia and the UK

A Simple Six presentation in a school hall

A packed hall at a Simple Six presentation

Students in blazers at a Simple Six presentation

A tiered lecture theatre during a Simple Six presentation

850+Mental health programmes delivered

140,000+Students positively impacted

13+Years in schools

Delivered across UK schools, including

Queen's College, London
Bancroft's School
Wallington County Grammar
Frances Bardsley Academy
Dwight School London
Northwood School
Harris Academy Battersea
Brentford School for Girls
Waldegrave School
Mayfield School
Eastbrook School
St James Catholic
Ruislip High School
Welling School
Ibstock Place School
St Augustine's Priory
St Richard Reynolds Catholic
St Olave's Grammar
Elthorne Park High School
Old Palace of John Whitgift
Queensmead School
Barking Abbey School
Cranford Community College
City of London Academy
Nower Hill High School
Heron Hall Academy
Kingsley Academy
Kingston Grammar School
Richmond Park Academy
Chiswick School
Haberdashers' Hatcham

The Simple Six

Everyday positive actions to look after your mental health

1Stress BreakTake moments to decompress
2Sweat15+ minutes of exercise a day
3Sleep8+ hours each night
4Sunlight30+ minutes outdoors a day
5SocialisePeople over platforms
6Speak UpTalk to someone when feeling low

SimplifyTo stay consistent
StartWhen you're struggling
Your EnvironmentWho, what and where

1 of 6Stress Break

Take moments to decompress

Short pauses to breathe, stretch or step away before stress builds up.

Stress builds when you go from one pressure to the next with no pause. A short break lets your body settle, so you can think clearly and come back focused. You don't always need a big solution. Sometimes you need a break.

Try this

Step outside for five minutes between revision blocks
Put your phone down and take ten slow breaths
Listen to one song with your eyes closed
Revise in 30-minute blocks with a 5-minute break

Simplify it

Schedule it. Set a timer for a five-minute break after every 30 minutes of revision.

2 of 6Sweat

15+ minutes of exercise a day

Enjoyable movement that lifts mood, eases stress and sharpens focus.

Moving your body is one of the quickest ways to change how you feel. You don't need a gym, a team or a perfect workout. Start with 15 minutes and build up from there. UK guidance for under-18s is an average of an hour a day across the week.

Try this

Walk or cycle part of the way to school
Take a 15-minute walk at lunch
Join one club or team this term
Run, dance, swim, lift: anything that raises your heart rate

Simplify it

Link it. Walk or cycle part of the way to school, so it happens every day without deciding.

3 of 6Sleep

8+ hours each night

The foundation for mood, memory and exam performance.

Sleep is when your brain stores what you learned and resets your mood. Teenagers' body clocks run later, so getting enough sleep takes a plan. Your phone is usually the biggest thing in the way.

Try this

Charge your phone outside your bedroom and use a cheap alarm clock
Wake up at the same time most days, weekends included
Put screens away 30 minutes before bed
Get daylight in the morning to help set your body clock

Simplify it

Make it easier. Charge your phone in the kitchen and use an alarm clock by your bed.

4 of 6Sunlight

30+ minutes outdoors a day

Daylight sets the body clock, lifts mood and improves sleep.

Daylight, especially in the morning, helps set your body clock, which makes it easier to sleep at night. Time outside also lifts your mood. Even a cloudy day is far brighter than indoor light, so in a UK winter grab the daylight while it's there.

Try this

Walk part of the way to school
Eat lunch outside
Revise, read or call a friend outdoors
Walk outside and it counts for Sweat too

Simplify it

Double up. Eat lunch outside with friends and you've done Sunlight and Socialise together.

5 of 6Socialise

People over platforms

Real time with real people protects against low mood.

Feeling connected to other people is one of the strongest protections for your mental health. Messaging helps, but time together in person matters most. Find your people: friends, family, clubs, teams and groups.

Try this

Eat lunch with someone instead of scrolling
Join one club or group this term
Message a friend to meet up, not just to chat
Put your phone away when you're with people

Simplify it

Plan it. Have one regular thing each week: a club, a team or a standing catch-up.

6 of 6Speak Up

Talk to someone when feeling low

Talking to someone early stops small struggles from growing.

Everyone struggles sometimes. Talking about it is a sign of strength. Saying it out loud often makes it feel smaller, and it means you get support sooner instead of carrying it alone.

Try this

Tell a friend, family member or teacher how you're really doing
Know who your speak-up person is at school
Check in on a friend who seems quiet
If it feels serious or won't go away, get help now

Simplify it

Prepare it. Pick two people you'd talk to now, before you need them.

Where to speak up

At school
Your speak-up person, your tutor, your head of year, or any teacher you trust.
At home
A parent, carer, family member or friend. Saying it out loud is the first step.
Your GP
Book an appointment and tell them how you've been feeling. They can help, and point you to more support.

Free, confidential help, any time

Shout85258Text SHOUT to 85258Free, confidential text support, 24 hours a day
Childline0800 1111Call 0800 1111For anyone 18 or under, 24 hours a day
Samaritans116 123Call 116 123For anyone, 24 hours a day
NHS 111111Call 111 and choose option 2Urgent mental health help in England, any age, 24 hours a day

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E.

To stay consistentSimplify

Simplify the action

Motivation comes and goes, so it can't be the plan. If you want to be consistent, make the action so simple that you'll do it even on the days you don't feel like it. Make the good habits easy, and the habits that get in the way harder.

Make it smallerA 10-minute walk still counts. Start small, then build.
Make it easierTrainers by the door. Phone charging in the kitchen, not your bedroom.
Link itTie it to something you already do. Walk to the bus and you've got Sweat and Sunlight.
Double upLunch outside with friends is Sunlight and Socialise at once.
Plan itPut it in your week like a lesson, so you don't have to decide each time.

Example

“I want to sleep more”

Phone charges in the kitchen
Alarm clock by the bed
Same wake-up time every day

When you're strugglingStart

Start a positive action

On a hard day it's natural to wait until you feel better before you do anything. But emotion follows motion. If you want to start feeling better, start with an action that helps you feel better.

What most of us do

Wait to feel betterThen do a positive action

If you wait until you feel like it, you could be waiting a long time.

What works better

Do a positive actionThen feel better

Start small. The feeling follows the action.

Three steps

1
Notice it
Say it to yourself: "I'm struggling right now."
2
Pick one
Choose the easiest of the Six for this moment.
3
Do it now
A small version is fine. Motion creates emotion.

Start with one of the Six

Stressed and can't focusStress Break: five minutes outside, away from the screen
Low and flatSweat and Sunlight: a 15-minute walk outdoors
LonelySocialise: message a friend and arrange to meet
Overthinking at nightSleep: phone out of the room, same wake-up time tomorrow
It's more than a bad daySpeak Up: talk to someone today

Start isn't about pretending you're fine. If you've been struggling for more than a couple of weeks, or it feels too big to handle, Speak Up is the action to start with.

Who, what and whereYour Environment

The other half of your lifestyle

Your environment has a huge impact on your mental health. It's made up of three things.

Whoyou spend your time with
People who leave you feeling better, or worse, after you've seen them.
Whatyou spend your time doing
Apps, games, habits and what's around you in your room.
Whereyou spend your time
Places that help you rest, focus and get outside.

Before every choice, big or small, ask

Is this good for my mental health?

Ask it about small choices (another hour scrolling?) and big ones (friends, subjects, jobs, where to live). You won't always get it right. Asking more often is the point.

Our Programmes

We offer schools two programmes to launch the Simple Six: a Simple Six Day, or our Sixth Form Programme. Both come with one year of completely free access to our comprehensive School Portal, with an implementation guide, eight lessons with slides, a resource library, a student booklet, embedding recommendations and the Community Board.

For the whole school

Simple Six Day

£950

A Simple Six facilitator and consultant in your school for a full school day, from 8:30am to 5pm, to use however works best for you.

The day can include

One or more launch assemblies for different year groups
Talks with individual year groups
A staff session, so every teacher can model the Six
A consultation with key staff, such as your head teacher and head of wellbeing, on how to embed the Simple Six in your school

Why choose it

Everything happens in one day, so you can build your whole launch around it.

For your sixth form

Sixth Form Programme

£950

Two 60 minute presentations for your sixth form students, delivered on separate days.

The programme covers

The Simple Six in depth, and how to look after their mental health
Managing stress and living a mentally healthy lifestyle through the pressures of sixth form and A levels
How to lead the Simple Six at school, and be mental health role models for younger students

Why choose it

Your senior students become the leaders of the Simple Six in your school. It gives them responsibility and accountability, and gives your launch across the school a head start.

Included with both

One year of free school-wide access to the Simple Six School Portal

Everyone at your school with a school email address can sign in and use every resource.

Implementation guideHow to launch and embed the Simple Six
Eight 10 minute lessonsWith lesson plans and slides
Resource libraryPosters, pocket cards and lock screens
Student bookletPrinted or completed online
Embedding recommendationsFor each of the Six
Community BoardEvery club and group in one place

Not sure which is right for your school?

Book a 15 minute discovery call, and we'll talk through which option would work best for you.

For sponsors · Business partners

Help A GenerationLearn To Look AfterTheir Mental Health

Sponsor the Simple Six in secondary schools in your community. Students learn six everyday strategies to look after their mental health, their school builds them into daily life, and your business is credited on everything they take home.

Arrange A Call Request The Sponsor Pack

£1,000 per school
Your name on every card
A report on every school
No admin for your team

One sponsored school£1,000

A Simple Six Day or Sixth Form Programme
A printed pocket card for every student
A set of posters for the school
The full School Kit, so the school keeps it going
Student feedback and an impact report

What Your Business Gets

Sponsorship is a credit, not an advert. Students see who made their programme possible, and you see exactly what it achieved.

Your name on every resource

"Supported by" your business on every student's pocket card, the school's posters and the closing slide of every presentation.

Proof of impact

A report for every school you fund: how many students took part, what they found useful, and which of the Six they're using.

Stories you can share

Photos and anonymous student feedback from each school, where the school allows it, for your website, social media and newsletters.

Local reputation

Choose the boroughs where your staff, customers and projects are. Your support lands in schools your community knows.

Something for your own team

Sponsor ten or more schools and we'll deliver a Simple Six talk for your staff, using the same six everyday actions.

Social value reporting

Clear numbers for your annual report, ESG or social value commitments: schools reached, students reached and outcomes.

Why It Matters

One in five children aged 8 to 16 in England had a probable mental disorder in 2023. Among 17 to 19 year olds the rate has more than doubled since 2017. Most of the response focuses on awareness and treatment. The Simple Six focuses on prevention: everyday habits that protect mental health, built into school life so young people don't just learn them, they live them.

EducateSix strategies, taught simplyStress Break, Sweat, Sleep, Sunlight, Socialise and Speak Up, with clear targets students can start the same day.

EmbedBuilt into school lifeSchools make one change at a time, from a stress-break space to lunch outside, so the healthy choice is the easy one.

LastA school that keeps goingEvery sponsored school keeps the full School Kit, so the Six carry on long after the Simple Six Day.

How It Works

We handle the schools, the printing and the delivery. There's no admin for your team.

Week 1
Choose your schools
Tell us how many schools you'd like to fund and in which areas.
Weeks 1–3
We match and schedule
We match you with schools that have asked for sponsored support. Each school agrees first.
From week 3
We print and deliver
Cards and posters carry your credit. We deliver the Simple Six Days and presentations.
After delivery
You get your report
A report for every school, with student feedback and photos where allowed.

Sponsor A School

One simple price. Sponsor as many schools as you like, in the areas that matter to your business.

£1,000per school

Most sponsors start with five to ten schools in one area.

5 schools · £5,00010 schools · £10,00020 schools · £20,000

Each sponsored school receives

A Simple Six Day or the Sixth Form Programme
A printed pocket card for every student and a set of posters
The full School Kit, so the school keeps the Six going
"Supported by" credit for your business on every resource
An impact report with student feedback, and photos where allowed

Arrange A Call Request The Sponsor Pack

Our track record

Trusted By Schools

The Simple Six was developed by breakingFree and refined over 13 years of presenting in schools across Australia and the UK.

850+Presentations

140,000+Students reached

13Years in schools

52Schools in 2025

Six weeks later

What students told us

96%found it useful and informative
85%made positive life changes
87%were more likely to seek help

breakingFree surveys of 3,800 students, six weeks after the programme.

Founder and presenter

James Peterson

Founder and CEO of breakingFree, an Australian not-for-profit
Young Australian of the Year finalist 2025
Westfield Mt Gravatt Local Hero 2025
breakingFree is recommended in the ACER Wellbeing Program Guide for Schools
DBS checked and Mental Health First Aid trained

James is exceptional with the students. He engages so well with them. The students really enjoy these sessions, but most importantly, they take away so much. We have rebooked for 2 years now across both 6th form groups. I would highly recommend these sessions as a staple in schools.

Anastasiya ChampionHead of 6th Form, Mayfield School

James provided two, expertly-delivered, thought provoking and thoroughly engaging workshops to our student community around the topic of mental health; his natural blend of authenticity, nuanced knowledge and strategic advice was pitched perfectly for our international student body.

William BowrySenior School Principal, Dwight School London

Mental health is such a tough topic to make 'fun', 'interesting' and 'engaging', yet James managed so so well! It was thought provoking, relatable, hard hitting and left my students so full of inspiration.

Kiran KondalDeputy Head of 6th Form, Northwood School

Delivered in London schools including

Queen's College, London
Bancroft's School
Wallington County Grammar
Frances Bardsley Academy
Dwight School London
Northwood School
Harris Academy Battersea
Brentford School for Girls
Waldegrave School
Mayfield School
Eastbrook School
St James Catholic
Ruislip High School
Welling School
Ibstock Place School
St Augustine's Priory
St Richard Reynolds Catholic
St Olave's Grammar
Elthorne Park High School
Old Palace of John Whitgift
Queensmead School
Barking Abbey School
Cranford Community College
City of London Academy
Nower Hill High School
Heron Hall Academy
Kingsley Academy
Kingston Grammar School
Richmond Park Academy
Chiswick School
Haberdashers' Hatcham

Our standards

Schools are told who their sponsor is in advance, and can say no.
One sponsor per school.
Sponsors are credited, never advertised to students, and never receive student data.
We don't accept sponsors from gambling, alcohol, vaping, payday lending or fast food.

Questions From Sponsors

How much does it cost?

£1,000 per school. That covers a Simple Six Day or the Sixth Form Programme, printed cards and posters, the full School Kit and an impact report.

Who chooses the schools?

We match you with secondary schools in the areas you choose, starting with schools that have asked for sponsored support. Every school agrees before its sponsored programme goes ahead.

Do students see advertising?

No. Your business is credited as a supporter on the resources and the closing slide. We don't advertise to students and we never share student data.

How does payment work?

Half when you sign, and half when you receive your impact report.

How soon does it start?

Printing and scheduling take about three weeks from signing. Presentations then follow each school's calendar.

Can we sponsor schools outside London?

Simple Six Days and presentations are currently delivered in and around London. Get in touch if you'd like to support schools elsewhere.

Simple Six School Portal

Not booked yet? See our programmes, or .

View-only preview

Signed in as

Northwood
Simple Six School Portal

Welcome, Niall. Everything you need to launch, teach and embed the Simple Six at Northwood School, in one place.

Implementation GuideHow to launch and run the Simple Six
The Simple Six LessonsEight 10-minute lessons with slides
Resource LibraryPosters, cards, lock screens and the booklet
Embedding The Simple SixRecommendations for your school
Community BoardEvery club and group in one place

Implementation
Guide

Launch and embed the Simple Six your way

The Simple Six works because students don't just learn six actions once, they see and do them every day. This guide takes you from your launch to a school where the Six are part of everyday life, at a pace that suits you.

1
Book and sign in
Book a Simple Six Day or the Sixth Form Programme. Your Simple Six lead signs in here, and colleagues sign in with their school email.
To start
2
Read the portal
About 30 minutes: this guide, the eight lessons and the embedding recommendations.
Before you launch
3
Launch the Simple Six
With your Simple Six Day or Sixth Form Programme. Put up the posters, give out pocket cards and share the lock screens.
Your launch
4
Teach the eight lessons
One 10-minute lesson whenever you have space, in PSHE, tutor time or elsewhere. Students complete their Simple Six booklet as they go.
When it suits you
5
Embed one change at a time
Start with a quick win for each of the Six, such as naming your stress-break space, then work through the embedding recommendations.
Over time
6
Keep it going
Use the language every day (“time for a stress break”), recap the Six from time to time, and ask students which ones they're doing.
Every day

Make it work for your school

There's no single right way to run the Simple Six. Fit the lessons around your timetable, teach them in the order that suits you, and embed the Six in the way that works best for your school. The portal gives you everything you need, and the freedom to use it your way.

The Implementation Guide

Four pages: the idea, six steps to get started, the eight lessons, embedding ideas and the launch assembly script.

The Simple Six
Lessons

Eight 10-minute lessons, ready to teach

Teach the lessons whenever you have space, in PSHE, tutor time or anywhere else, in the order that suits your school. Each lesson has what students need to know, a 10-minute lesson plan and five slides. Students fill in the matching page of their Simple Six booklet.

Lesson 1Stress Break
Lesson 2Sweat
Lesson 3Sleep
Lesson 4Sunlight
Lesson 5Socialise
Lesson 6Speak Up
Lesson 7Simplify
Lesson 8Start

Lesson 1 of 8

Stress Break

Take moments to decompress

Short pauses to breathe, stretch or step away before stress builds up.

Ways to do it

Step outside for five minutes between revision blocks
Put your phone down and take ten slow breaths
Listen to one song with your eyes closed
Revise in 30-minute blocks with a 5-minute break

For teachers10-minute lesson · 5 slides · view only

Open2 min
Ask: when did you last feel stress building? What did you do about it?
Teach3 min
- Stress is normal. The aim isn't to get rid of it, it's to notice it building and take a break before it boils over.
- A stress break can be tiny: a walk, ten slow breaths, a song, five quiet minutes.
- Show students where the school's stress-break space is and who they can find there.
Talk3 min
In pairs: what's your go-to five-minute stress break? Take three or four answers.
Close2 min
Everyone picks one stress break to use this week, for example between revision blocks.

In school life. A stress-break space every student knows about, with a member of staff there to talk to, and short breaks built into long lessons and exam prep. See the embedding ideas

Lesson 2 of 8

Sweat

15+ minutes of exercise a day

Enjoyable movement that lifts mood, eases stress and sharpens focus.

Ways to do it

Walk or cycle part of the way to school
Take a 15-minute walk at lunch
Join one club or team this term
Run, dance, swim, lift: anything that raises your heart rate

For teachers10-minute lesson · 5 slides · view only

Open2 min
Ask: what's the most fun you've ever had moving? What stops you exercising now?
Teach3 min
- Motion creates emotion. You don't have to feel good before you move. Moving is often what helps you feel better.
- 15 minutes counts. A brisk walk counts. Start small and build up towards an hour a day.
- Point out the clubs, teams and activities on offer at school.
Talk3 min
In pairs: where could 15 minutes of movement fit into tomorrow? Be specific about when and where.
Close2 min
Everyone writes down one sweat plan for this week.

In school life. Daily movement built into the school routine, such as a morning walk or movement in tutor time, on top of PE. See the embedding ideas

Lesson 3 of 8

Sleep

8+ hours each night

The foundation for mood, memory and exam performance.

Sleep is when your brain stores what you learned and resets your mood. Teenagers' body clocks run later, so getting enough sleep takes a plan. Your phone is usually the biggest thing in the way.

Ways to do it

Charge your phone outside your bedroom and use a cheap alarm clock
Wake up at the same time most days, weekends included
Put screens away 30 minutes before bed
Get daylight in the morning to help set your body clock

For teachers10-minute lesson · 5 slides · view only

Open2 min
Ask students to think (not say): how many hours did you sleep last night? What kept you up?
Teach3 min
- Sleep affects mood, memory, concentration and exam results more than almost anything else.
- Teenage body clocks shift later, so falling asleep early is genuinely harder. That's biology, not laziness.
- The phone is the biggest sleep thief. Phone out of the room, alarm clock in.
Talk3 min
In pairs: what's one change that would get you to sleep 30 minutes earlier?
Close2 min
Everyone picks one sleep change to try every night this week.

In school life. Free Simple Six alarm clocks, so phones can charge outside the bedroom, and start times, homework and exam timetables that protect sleep. See the embedding ideas

Lesson 4 of 8

Sunlight

30+ minutes outdoors a day

Daylight sets the body clock, lifts mood and improves sleep.

Ways to do it

Walk part of the way to school
Eat lunch outside
Revise, read or call a friend outdoors
Walk outside and it counts for Sweat too

For teachers10-minute lesson · 5 slides · view only

Open2 min
Ask: how much time did you spend outside yesterday? Where was it?
Teach3 min
- Daylight sets your body clock, which helps you sleep. It also lifts your mood.
- Indoor light is much dimmer than daylight, even on a grey day.
- Sunlight is easy to combine: walk to school, eat lunch outside, exercise outdoors.
Talk3 min
In pairs: when in your normal day could you get 30 minutes outside?
Close2 min
Everyone picks one time this week to swap indoors for outdoors.

In school life. Break and lunch outside by default, with outdoor seating and shelter, and outdoor learning where possible. See the embedding ideas

Lesson 5 of 8

Socialise

People over platforms

Real time with real people protects against low mood.

Ways to do it

Eat lunch with someone instead of scrolling
Join one club or group this term
Message a friend to meet up, not just to chat
Put your phone away when you're with people

For teachers10-minute lesson · 5 slides · view only

Open2 min
Ask: who's someone you always feel better after seeing? What do you do together?
Teach3 min
- Feeling connected protects your mental health. Feeling lonely is common and nothing to be ashamed of.
- Online contact is useful, but in-person time does more. People over platforms.
- Show students the community board and two or three clubs they could try.
Talk3 min
In pairs: what's one group, club or person you'd like to spend more time with?
Close2 min
Everyone picks one person to see or one group to try this week.

In school life. A community board showing every club and group, where and when they meet and how to join, plus phone-free time so breaks are for people. See the embedding ideas

Lesson 6 of 8

Speak Up

Talk to someone when feeling low

Talking to someone early stops small struggles from growing.

Everyone struggles sometimes. Talking about it is a sign of strength. Saying it out loud often makes it feel smaller, and it means you get support sooner instead of carrying it alone.

Ways to do it

Tell a friend, family member or teacher how you're really doing
Know who your speak-up person is at school
Check in on a friend who seems quiet
If it feels serious or won't go away, get help now

For teachers10-minute lesson · 5 slides · view only

Open2 min
Ask: why do people find it hard to say "I'm not OK"?
Teach3 min
- Everyone struggles sometimes. Speaking up early stops small things growing into big things.
- You don't need the perfect words. "Can I talk to you about something?" is enough.
- Name the school's speak-up people and where to find them, and show the helplines on the poster.
Talk3 min
In pairs: who are two people you could talk to if you were struggling?
Close2 min
Remind everyone who the speak-up people are and where the help numbers are. Follow your school's safeguarding policy if anything is disclosed.

In school life. Posters in every corridor showing where to go and who to talk to, named speak-up people every student knows, and sixth formers talking openly about mental health to reduce the stigma. See the embedding ideas

Lesson 7 of 8

Simplify

How to stay consistent

Knowing the Six is the easy part. Doing them every week is harder. Don't rely on willpower: make the good habits easy and the habits that get in the way harder.

Five ways to simplify

Make it smaller. A 10-minute walk still counts. Start small, then build.
Make it easier. Trainers by the door. Phone charging in the kitchen, not your bedroom.
Link it. Tie it to something you already do. Walk to the bus and you've got Sweat and Sunlight.
Double up. Lunch outside with friends is Sunlight and Socialise at once.
Plan it. Put it in your week like a lesson, so you don't have to decide each time.

Example: I want to sleep morePhone charges in the kitchen · Alarm clock by the bed · Same wake-up time every day

For teachers10-minute lesson · 5 slides · view only

Open2 min
Ask: which of the Six do you find hardest to keep doing? Why?
Teach3 min
- Willpower runs out. Make good habits easy and bad ones harder.
- Five ways: make it smaller, make it easier, link it, double up, plan it.
- Work one example on the board, such as sleep: phone in the kitchen, alarm clock, same wake-up time.
Talk3 min
In pairs: pick your hardest one of the Six and simplify it using one of the five ways.
Close2 min
Everyone writes their simplified action down and keeps it somewhere they'll see it.

In school life. Make the healthy choice the easy one around school: lunch outside first, phone-free breaks, and clubs that are easy to find and join.

Lesson 8 of 8

Start

What to do when you're struggling

On a hard day, or when negative thoughts take over, it's natural to wait until you feel better before you do anything. Flip it. Start with one of the Six, the easiest one, and do a small version now. Feeling better often follows.

Three steps

Notice it. Say it to yourself: "I'm struggling right now."
Pick one. Choose the easiest of the Six for this moment.
Do it now. A small version is fine. Motion creates emotion.

Start with one of the Six

Stressed and can't focus: Stress Break: five minutes outside, away from the screen
Low and flat: Sweat and Sunlight: a 15-minute walk outdoors
Lonely: Socialise: message a friend and arrange to meet
Overthinking at night: Sleep: phone out of the room, same wake-up time tomorrow
It's more than a bad day: Speak Up: talk to someone today

Start isn't about pretending you're fine. If you've been struggling for more than a couple of weeks, or it feels too big to handle, Speak Up is the action to start with.

For teachers10-minute lesson · 5 slides · view only

Open2 min
Ask: when you feel low, what do you usually do? Does it help?
Teach3 min
- When we feel low we wait to feel better before acting. Start flips that: act first, and feeling better often follows.
- Three steps: notice it, pick one of the Six, do a small version now.
- If it's more than a bad day, Speak Up is the one to start with.
Talk3 min
In pairs: match three situations (stressed, low, lonely) to one of the Six you could start with.
Close2 min
Everyone picks their go-to Start action for a hard day. Follow your school's safeguarding policy if anything is disclosed.

In school life. Make sure every student knows their go-to Start action, and that Speak Up is the one to start with if things feel too big.

Resource
Library

Everything to print, share and put up around school

A4 and A3 · 1 page

The Simple Six poster

The six everyday actions, Simplify and Start, and your environment. For corridors and form rooms.

A4 · 6 posters

Six action posters

One poster for each of the Six, with space to add your stress-break room and speak-up people.

A3 · for the staff room

The Simple Six School poster

What every student learns, and how the school embeds each of the Six.

A4 sheet · 10 cards

Pocket cards

The Six on the front, Simplify, Start and help numbers on the back. One for every student.

2 designs

Phone lock screens

The Simple Six on students' phones, so they see it every time they pick it up.

A4 · 11 pages · print or online

My Simple Six Booklet

One page per lesson: learn it, choose an action, track it for a week and look back.

8 lessons · 40 slides

Lesson slides

Five slides for each lesson: title, open question, why it matters, ideas and your turn.

A4 · 4 pages

Implementation Guide

Six steps to get started, the eight lessons, embedding ideas, the assembly script and safeguarding.

This preview is view only. Schools that book get full access to download and print every resource.

Embedding The
Simple Six

Recommendations for your school environment

A lifestyle is made up of everyday actions and environment. Students spend more than six hours a day at school, so small changes to the school day make the healthy choice the easy one. Start with the quick win for each of the Six, then work through the rest.

0 of 17 changes made Ticks are saved on this device

Stress Break

Take moments to decompress

What it looks like

A stress-break space every student knows about, with a member of staff there to talk to, and short breaks built into long lessons and exam prep.

How to do it

Name a stress-break space and put up posters showing where it isQuick win
Staff it through the day with a mental health lead and stock it with resources
Build short breaks into long lessons and exam prep

Resources

Sweat

15+ minutes of exercise a day

What it looks like

Daily movement built into the school routine, such as a morning walk or movement in tutor time, on top of PE.

How to do it

A 10–15 minute walk or movement break in tutor timeQuick win
Daily movement in the timetable, such as a morning walk, on top of PE

Resources

Sleep

8+ hours each night

What it looks like

Free Simple Six alarm clocks, so phones can charge outside the bedroom, and start times, homework and exam timetables that protect sleep.

How to do it

Give out free Simple Six alarm clocks, so phones can charge outside the bedroomQuick win
Homework and exam timetables that avoid late nights
Review start times for older year groups

Resources

Sunlight

30+ minutes outdoors a day

What it looks like

Break and lunch outside by default, with outdoor seating and shelter, and outdoor learning where possible.

How to do it

Outside first at break and lunch whenever it's dryQuick win
Outdoor seating and shelter so outside is the easy choice
Outdoor lessons where they work

Resources

Socialise

People over platforms

What it looks like

A community board showing every club and group, where and when they meet and how to join, plus phone-free time so breaks are for people.

How to do it

Make school a phone-free placeQuick win
A community board listing every club and group, making discovery and joining easy
Sixth form-led clubs and groups for younger years

Resources

Community Board

Speak Up

Talk to someone when feeling low

What it looks like

Posters in every corridor showing where to go and who to talk to, named speak-up people every student knows, and sixth formers talking openly about mental health to reduce the stigma.

How to do it

Posters in every classroom and corridor showing who to talk to, with names and photosQuick win
Every student knows their speak-up person
Sixth formers talk openly about mental health in assemblies

Resources

Community
Board

Every club and group, easy to find and easy to join

In development · a preview of how it will work

Many students don't know what clubs exist, or how to join them. The Community Board puts every club and group at your school in one simple place, to help students do more of Simple Six action number five: Socialise. Creating a group takes a minute and joining one takes a tap, because we want it to be as easy as possible for students to join a group and spend time with other people.

Step 1
Download and set up
Install the Community Board on school devices, or open it in any browser. Your Simple Six lead signs in with your school account and invites staff.
Step 2
Add your clubs and groups
Staff add each club in a minute: when and where it meets, how to join, and which of the Six it supports. Students can suggest new groups too.
Step 3
Share it with students
Put the QR code on posters and show it in tutor time. Students sign in with their school account.
Step 4
Find, join, turn up
Students browse or search, join in one tap and get a reminder before it starts. Group leaders see who's coming.

Northwood Community BoardPreview

Preview only: groups you create or join here aren't saved.

We Educate AndEmpower StudentsTo Live MentallyHealthy Lifestyles

The Simple Six

Our Programmes

More money

More treatment

More awareness

Look at a typical school day

The Simple Six

Stress Break

Sweat

Sleep

Sunlight

Socialise

Speak Up

We make embedding the Simple Six in your school as simple as possible

Book

Sign up

Colleagues sign in

Follow the guide

Launch

Embed

Every school that books a Simple Six Day or our Sixth Form Programme gets everything in the Simple Six School Portal, included for FREE

A shared language for mental health

Delivered across UK schools, including

The Simple Six

Try this

Try this

Try this

Try this

Try this

Try this

Where to speak up

Free, confidential help, any time

Shout

Childline

Samaritans

NHS 111

“I want to sleep more”

Three steps

Start with one of the Six

Is this good for my mental health?

Our Programmes

The two programmes

The day can include

The programme covers

One year of free school-wide access to the Simple Six School Portal

Not sure which is right for your school?

Help A GenerationLearn To Look AfterTheir Mental Health

What Your Business Gets

Your name on every resource

Proof of impact

Stories you can share

Local reputation

Something for your own team

Social value reporting

Why It Matters

How It Works

Choose your schools

We match and schedule

We print and deliver

You get your report

Sponsor A School

Each sponsored school receives

Trusted By Schools

What students told us

James Peterson

Our standards

Arrange A Call

Questions From Sponsors

Simple Six School Portal

NorthwoodSimple Six School Portal

Book and sign in

Read the portal

Launch the Simple Six

Teach the eight lessons

Embed one change at a time

Keep it going

Make it work for your school

The Implementation Guide

Ways to do it

We Educate And
Empower Students
To Live Mentally
Healthy Lifestyles

Northwood
Simple Six School Portal