ADEK Launches Wellbeing Mark To Enhance School Recognition And Student Wellbeing In Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is introducing the Wellbeing Mark, a new initiative aimed at recognising schools that prioritise wellbeing. This programme, set to launch in the 2025/26 academic year, will be implemented across all private and charter schools in Abu Dhabi. It aims to make wellbeing a measurable and essential part of education.

Research indicates that students thrive academically in supportive environments. Schools focusing on wellbeing see improved student performance, greater resilience, and deeper engagement in learning. Teachers also benefit from higher satisfaction and reduced burnout. Thus, wellbeing is crucial for achieving strong academic results.

The Wellbeing Mark provides transparency for parents by offering a standardised measure of how schools support mental, physical, and emotional health. Parents will know if their child's school fosters a supportive learning environment. Education should not only focus on grades but also on nurturing the overall development of students.

This initiative is based on the SPIRE framework, which includes five key dimensions: self-empowerment, physical, intellectual, relational, and emotional wellbeing. Each dimension has three elements to ensure schools can integrate wellbeing into daily activities effectively. This structured approach allows flexibility while embedding wellbeing into school culture.

A pilot phase involving 64 schools—47 private and 17 charter—is currently underway. This phase helps ADEK refine the programme before its full rollout. The pilot ensures that the final version of the Wellbeing Mark is fair and adaptable with clear criteria for validation to encourage meaningful change in school environments.

ADEK’s initiative shifts focus from mere compliance to genuine commitment to student welfare. It moves beyond policies to real-life experiences, transforming wellbeing from a buzzword into a benchmark for educational excellence.

The Wellbeing Mark represents a significant shift in how education is perceived by emphasising holistic development over traditional academic achievements alone. By prioritising student and teacher wellbeing, it aims to create happier and healthier school communities across Abu Dhabi.

With inputs from WAM