The BrainWaves Project

What Is BrainWaves?

Better adolescent mental health

BrainWaves is a registered charity and long-term research and education collaboration between the University of Oxford, Swansea University and The Day News & Media Ltd, the leading publisher of news and critical literacy content for secondary schools.

Through research studies with young people over several years, the programme is able to provide a unique insight into the adolescent brain and mental health. Using this data we can create evidence-based resources to:

Discover more about the adolescent brain.
Equip schools with evidence-based resources to care effectively for young people’s wellbeing.
Support young people to understand better their wellbeing, and mental health.
Provide a platform for scientific studies to develop educational material for the classroom.

How is LEH involved with the BrainWaves project?

We are delighted to be at the forefront of developments in young people’s wellbeing and mental health and are proud to be part of this collaboration both by contributing to the long-term cohort study whilst actively integrating the BrainWaves Hub curriculum into our Academic Enrichment and student wellbeing programmes.

Cohort Study

In 2024 we became part of the BrainWaves cohort of participating schools to better map the biological, psychological, and social factors impacting teenage mental health. This 10-year study involves students completing a yearly questionnaire, so we can use the data gathered to:

Learn more about how young people feel and think, improving our knowledge of mental health. This will support important public health and policy decisions around young people’s health, for example, access to social media.
Create and test new lessons and programmes, which are based on facts and full of simple tips to help students learn useful strategies for success.
Provide a research report which helps in our understanding of how groups of students are doing and how we can best support them as a school.

Our Year 9/Upper 4 pupils will be starting the study this year, being the second group of LEH students to be involved to date.

Group of five students in school uniforms relaxes in a modern common area, sitting and chatting on a gray bench.

Academic Enrichment Programme

Year 7/Thirds we utilise the BrainWaves research into our academic enrichment programme to equip the pupils with the skills to understand and protect their wellbeing and make bold, ambitious choices. Topics include:

The Science Behind Wellbeing
Understanding the Changing Brain
Managing Anxiety
Challenging Negative Thoughts

Year 8/Lower 4 – Year11/Upper 5

These year groups follow a sequence of BrainWaves lessons as part of their Life Advice Programme.

Thought Leadership Event
Bridging the Gap: From School to University and Work

Venue: Lady Eleanor Holles School
Date: Tuesday 3 November 2026
Timings: Reception from 6.30pm; Forum 7–8pm

On Tuesday 3 November, we will host a Thought Leadership Forum exploring practical strategies for managing the next stage for students, parents and the wider school community.

With an expert panel including Prof. John Gallacher from Oxford University together with experienced careers consultant, Bella Eccles and adolescent life coach, Rosie Rainford and others, we will explore how we can build the confidence, agency and wellbeing needed to navigate change in the all-important steps toward university and career success.

From sleep, exercise, relationships and meaning, to managing uncertainty, listening rather than advising, understanding our strengths and preparing for life beyond school, the conversation will focus on what we can do now to support better outcomes in the next destination.

How has participating in BrainWaves shaped the LEH Curriculum?

Since 2024 we have received two reports from BrainWaves on topics such as ‘Belonging’ and ‘Happiness at School’. These findings, along with our own pupil surveys have been invaluable in shaping our Life Advice Progamme across all our year groups.