A Little History
Knox Grammar School has been at the forefront of Positive Education for the past 12 years. The timeline below indicates key highlights in Knox’s positive education and wellbeing science journey.
Embracing Positive Psychology
Knox engaged the Positive Psychology Institute (PPI) to consult, collaborate and co-create a Knox Positive Education initiative.
Appreciatve Inquiry interviews with staff & intensive 3-day courses in positive psychology, mental fitness & wellbeing.
Mentor as Coach Program
The new Mentor as Coach Program commenced with over 200 staff trained in the foundations of positive education and mental fitness.
The major focus of 2012 was to improve the mentor-student relationship through the development of the mentor groups.
Positive Education Program
Rollout of Total Fitness, a Positive Education program underpinned by the Mental Fitness Model, which aims to support and improve social, physical, spiritual and academic fitness of every boy.
University of Wollongong
University of Wollongong Evaluation of the Program reported an increase in student: meaning & engagement; strength use; academic performance.
Practising Positive Education
Practising Positive Education: A Guide to Improve Wellbeing Literacy in Schools - Positive Education book launched by PPI & Knox
5th World Congress
Presentation at the 5th World Congress on Positive Psychology, Montreal, Canada
Australian Positive Psychology Learning Institute (APPLI)
The Australian Positive Psychology Learning Institute (APPLI) was launched, a joint initiative of the Positive Psychology Institute and Knox Grammar School.
First Student-led Wellbeing Conference
Knox partnered with Ravenswood to present the first student-led wellbeing conference in NSW (for students, by students). In 2022, this grew to 300 students across 40 NSW schools.
Science of Wellbeing (SoW) Team
Knox established the Science of Wellbeing (SoW) team, comprising qualified and experienced psychologists, researchers and educators to ensure our work is grounded in evidence and translated to practice.
PESA conference
The SoW team presented at the PESA conference on celebrating the school’s positive education journey via an innovative review framework.
Knox Total Fitness Action Model
The SoW team conducted a meta-review, systematic literature review and meta-analysis that conjointly informed a refreshed and empirically-supported practical wellbeing model.
Australian Psychological Society Education & Developmental conference
The SoW team presented at the Australian Psychological Society Education & Developmental conference on the revised Total Fitness Action Model wellbeing framework for education.