Editorial: A lesson in the need for emotional wellbeing

Provocatively entitled Teen Rage - Anarchy in the UK, the event sparked plenty of strong views from the panellists and audience, as they attempted to make sense of what's happening to our teenagers.

From the discussion emerged a strong emphasis on emotional wellbeing. Anthony Seldon, biographer of Tony Blair and headmaster of independent school Wellington College, said he has "a vision of a school where there are no punishments" and rules are devised by pupils. His is the school that last year introduced classes in positive psychology, dubbed "happiness lessons". Pupils learn how to relax when they are worried, make good decisions and manage themselves when they feel lonely or low - in essence, they learn to develop personal responsibility. A Wellington pupil at the debate testified to the effectiveness of the classes on his own wellbeing.