A Collaborative Approach to Wellbeing: The Wellbeing Hub at Aldro School
At Aldro School, pastoral care is central to school life. Staff recognise that while boarding offers independence and community, it can also bring moments of uncertainty, particularly for children new to life away from home. Homesickness, emotional overwhelm, or simply the need for quiet reflection are natural parts of that transition.
The school identified the need for a dedicated space: somewhere pupils could go when they needed reassurance, a pause from the day, or a calm environment away from the structure of a typical classroom.
To bring this vision to life, Aldro partnered with Witley Jones to collaboratively shape a space that truly responded to pupils’ needs.
Working in Partnership
From the outset, the project was grounded in dialogue. School leaders, pastoral staff and our designers worked closely together to explore how the space needed to function, not just aesthetically, but emotionally and practically.
Discussions focused on key questions:
- How should the space feel to a child in need of a calm, secure environment?
- What would make it distinct from a classroom environment?
- How could comfort be balanced with safeguarding and supervision?
- How could one room flex to support one-to-one conversations, small-group sessions, and quiet reflection?
By engaging staff early and understanding how they supported pupils day-to-day, the design team were able to translate pastoral insight into physical space.tanding how they supported pupils day-to-day, the design team were able to translate pastoral insight into physical space.
Designing for Emotional Transition
The shared ambition was to create more than a room; it was to create a sanctuary within the school.
Soft, calming interiors help signal immediately that this is not a classroom. Thoughtful zoning enables different types of interaction, whether a private conversation, a small group session, or independent quiet time. Comfortable, informal furniture fosters a sense of safety and ease, encouraging pupils to settle, regulate and feel supported.
The furniture plays a central role in shaping the experience of the space. Modern yet inviting, each piece was carefully selected to feel comfortable, accessible and reassuring rather than formal or institutional. Soft upholstery in calming tones, layered textures and rounded forms help create an environment that feels almost like a warm hug, instantly different from the structured feel of a classroom. Thoughtfully integrated storage ensures resources are organised but unobtrusive, maintaining a sense of calm and order.
Together, these elements encourage children to settle more quickly, feel physically at ease, and engage openly in conversation or quiet reflection. The environment itself supports emotional regulation, helping pupils feel safe, grounded and supported.
For children new to boarding, the Hub provides a reassuring place to land, somewhere they can go if they need familiarity, conversation, or simply a moment to breathe. For others, it offers valuable time away from the pace of academic life, supporting an emotional reset before returning to lessons.
The Impact
The Well Being Hub has quickly become embedded in school life, not as a reactive space, but as a proactive investment in wellbeing and belonging.
Victoria Smith, Bursar at Aldro during the project’s conception and first use, reflects on the wider collaboration:
“I just wanted to say thank you to Witley Jones for all the work they have done for us this year. The wellbeing room is quickly becoming a favourite place for many of the children. The space has been transformed, and I know the staff are particularly grateful for all the work Witley Jones did with them beforehand, understanding how they needed the rooms to work.”
Her words highlight not just the finished spaces, but the process behind them, one built on listening, understanding and partnership.
A Space That Reflects Shared Values
The Well Being Hub stands as a tangible expression of Aldro’s commitment to pastoral care. Through close collaboration, the school and design team created a space that supports smoother transitions into boarding life, offers calm within a busy school day, and reinforces a culture where emotional wellbeing is prioritised.
It is a reminder that when design is shaped by partnership and purpose, it can do more than change a room, it can shape how children feel within it.
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