Epsom and Ewell High School

Embedding mindset at the heart of learning 

Background
Epsom and Ewell has always been a forward-thinking school, known for its progressive approach to education. In 2018, it became the first secondary school in the UK to receive the School Mental Health Award at Gold Standard, proof that wellbeing and mindset are deeply embedded in the school’s ethos. Headteacher James Newman believes it’s the key to success. “If we can create happy learners, we can get happy outcomes,” he says. 
"Red2Blue is now being used to coach Year 11s through exam pressure, preparing sports teams for big games"
What We Did
James discovered Red2Blue through one of our Certified Coaches. Thanks to the simplicity of Red2Blue he could immediately see its impact for education. “You don’t even need to explain it. Just show the map, and students instinctively know whether they’re in the Red or the Blue,” he says. We began working with the school to develop internal expertise to embed the Red2Blue approach. Three teachers were selected for regular coaching, testing the techniques in the classroom and sharing their experiences across the wider staff.
The Results
The impact was immediate. One of the biggest shifts James noticed was that students became more ready to learn. “Red2Blue helps students reset after the playground buzz. Before, teachers would jump straight into content—but now, we help them get back into the Blue first,” he says. Red2Blue has also been a powerful de-escalation tool. James recalls helping a dysregulated student to calm down simply by spending a few minutes with the map: “She was able to say, ‘I’m in Red head…I feel pretty angry.’” When he asked her ‘Where do you want to get to?’ she said, ‘To the Blue. That looks a lot calmer’, opening the door for James to have a proper conversation. Using the Control Circles, they talked through what she could and couldn’t control, and how she might respond differently next time.

James says teacher are using Red2Blue to manage their own mindset during challenging lessons. In the fast-paced and often reactive teaching environment, Red2Blue is helping them to make better decisions, from the Blue head, rather than the Red.

Red2Blue is now being used to coach Year 11s through exam pressure, preparing sports teams for big games, and helping the performing arts department gear up for a major production. “When someone comes to me with a problem, I’ll ask: What can you control here? And what can’t you? That opens up such a helpful conversation.”

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Ready to become a Red2Blue School?

If you’d like to find out more about becoming a Red2Blue School, please email gazing@gazing.com and one of our Education Specialists will be in touch.