News & Views

More than 90,000 students and 18,000 colleagues and parents across over 100 Cognita schools and offices in four regions took part in our annual Global Be Well Day on 27 September 2024.

The day served to highlight the vital link between wellbeing and education. As part of the event, which this year focused on ‘Giving’, the Cognita family took part in a ‘Be Well Impact Hour’, collectively donating over 500,000 hours to connect, support, and inspire change within their communities.

Now in its sixth year, Global Be Well Day encourages all Cognita schools and offices to focus on the importance of wellbeing, showcasing a wide array of activities and events centred around our Be Well Charter – a six-step formula for lifelong wellbeing based on global research.

Dr Simon Camby, our Group Chief Education Officer, said:

“Wellbeing is an essential pillar of the holistic education offered at Cognita schools worldwide. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to all the staff, students and families who participated in this year’s Global Be Well Day, dedicating their time to making a positive impact in their communities. In our rapidly evolving world, it is more important than ever to equip our children and young people with the knowledge and understanding of what they need to do to look after their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.

“While our schools focus on wellbeing all year round, Global Be Well Day acts as a regular reminder for all school communities about the importance of wellbeing, and it offers the opportunity for our schools to connect as a global community.”

Some of the highlights of the day included litter picking at the local park at North Bridge House Senior School & Sixth Form Canonbury in London, UK; preparing food and care packages for the local orphanage at St Andrews International School Sathorn in Bangkok, Thailand; spending time with local care home residents at Colegio Nuevo Cambridge de Cali in Colombia; and collecting donations for the local animal shelter at RGS Guildford Dubai in the UAE.

Global Be Well Day 2024 was also a chance for Cognita students to give back to other students, as well as school staff. For instance, students at Chile’s Colegio Manquecura Ñuñoa prepared breakfast for the school’s cleaning and maintenance assistants. Elsewhere, pupils at Repton Al Barsha, in Dubai, delighted their younger schoolmates with face painting.

Watch our Global Be Well Day 2024 highlights video for a real insight into the vast array of activities from around the world.