We are delighted to share that St Peter’s Catholic School has been shortlisted for a national staff wellbeing award, recognising the impact of our whole‑school commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our staff. The award ceremony will take place on 19 June, and we are hopeful that our work will be celebrated on the night.

Our submission focused on the introduction and sustained success of our 9‑day fortnight, a bold and carefully planned initiative that places staff wellbeing at the heart of school life. Now in its second year, the model is supported by strong evidence showing positive impact on staff morale, workload balance and retention, as well as benefits for pupils through greater stability and consistency. Regular staff feedback, alongside operational data, has demonstrated growing confidence in the approach, with colleagues reporting improved work–life balance and professional satisfaction.

What sets St Peter’s apart is not only the initiative itself, but the values that underpin it. Wellbeing is not treated as an add‑on, but embedded into everyday practice through compassionate leadership, open dialogue and a clear “you said, we did” culture. This has led to external interest from schools across the country keen to learn from our experience.

We are incredibly proud of the entire staff team, whose openness, professionalism and commitment have made this possible. Being shortlisted is a wonderful recognition of their dedication, and we look forward to representing the St Peter’s community at the awards ceremony in June.