When The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester was named a winner of Howden’s Pupil Wellbeing Prize 2025, it wasn’t just a moment of celebration, it was an opportunity to make an immediate, lasting difference.
The school received £6,000, recognising its deep‑rooted commitment to inclusion, emotional wellbeing and placing pupils first. The funding has already helped bring three powerful wellbeing initiatives to life:
- Upgrade to the hydrotherapy pool’s hoist equipment
- The launch of the school’s Kindness Ambassadors programme
- Contribution towards the creation of a Memory Garden
For Headteacher Gary Spracklen, the prize reflects a philosophy that has long guided the school.
“It’s a key characteristic of our school that we are incredibly inclusive and supportive of all needs,” he says. “Our vision is to inspire all children to learn – and that word ‘all’ is a very deliberate choice.”
Turning recognition into action
Rather than launching new ideas from scratch, the Pupil Wellbeing Prize allowed the school to accelerate plans already rooted in pupil need.
A hoist that expands hydrotherapy experiences
A significant portion of the Pupil Wellbeing Prize was invested in upgrading hoist equipment for the school’s hydrotherapy pool. The improvement means pupils of different ages and physical needs can access the pool safely and with dignity.
“What we’ve been able to do with the Pupil Wellbeing Prize is accelerate that programme and ensure that we have up‑to‑date hoist equipment,” says Gary. “That has made a massive difference.”
The impact goes beyond the school gates. The pool is also used for weekend respite sessions, supporting children from across Dorset.
“Those children are now accessing swimming that they weren’t before,” Gary explains. “It’s supporting families as well as pupils.”
Kindness, led by pupils
Wellbeing at The Prince of Wales School isn’t just about facilities, it’s about culture. The Kindness Ambassadors programme, supported by the prize, empowers pupils to champion kindness across everyday school life.
Wearing heart‑shaped badges, ambassadors help run inclusive play activities, support peers and encourage positive behaviour through example.
“Choose kindness guides all of our interactions and decisions,” says Gary. “It’s how we work with pupils, parents, staff and the wider community.”
Kindness is taught deliberately and age‑appropriately, helping pupils understand what it means in real, everyday terms.
“We teach what kindness looks like at their level,” he adds. “It’s about meeting children where they are.”
A space to reflect and remember
The prize has also helped support the creation of a Memory Garden, which will be a calm, reflective space developed by the school’s volunteer gardener. When completed, the garden will have a blossom tree and memory bench at the heart of its design and will be an outdoor reflective space to support pupils experiencing loss or big emotions.
“We recognise the significance that loss has on children of this age,” Gary says. “Loss can look like many different things, so we wanted to create a quiet space where children can reflect and feel supported.”
Why the Howden Pupil Wellbeing Prize matters
For The Prince of Wales School, the prize was about more than funding.
“It was such a shock – and such a positive moment,” Gary reflects. “It felt like recognition for work we truly believe in.”
Crucially, it brought momentum. “It’s jumped us forward years,” he says. “We might have done this in five or ten years’ time – but by receiving the Pupil Wellbeing Prize it means we can make a difference for the children who are at our school right now.”
Gary’s advice to other schools considering the Pupil Wellbeing Prize 2026 is straightforward:
“Do it. Go for it.”
If your school is committed to putting wellbeing first, this is your opportunity to be recognised, and for you to turn great ideas into meaningful change. Enter before 18 July 2026 for your school to be in with a chance of receiving this year’s Pupil Wellbeing Prize.
