Who We Are
Founding Director, Rachael Bushby, explains Dragonfly’s clear vision:
Our mission: To give leaders the expertise to build schools where good mental health is the foundation for all success.
For Dragonfly, ensuring a positive mental health culture in schools is a Four Wing thing.
Just as a dragonfly needs four wings to have the manoeuvrability to adapt and respond to its environment, school cultures need four elements in place to ensure all members of the community can benefit from good mental health, resilience and the capacity to respond to the challenges we all face.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴: for pupils to be well, the adults around them need to be well!
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 & 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: having clear values, prioritising mental wellbeing and creating psychological safety.
𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: we all need to feel safe – physically, emotionally and psychologically – and we all need to have our needs met. These are the foundations for mental health.
𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀: school staff need to know how to support the good mental health of all their pupils, spot the signs of mental ill-health and have a clear system to follow when they have a concern.
That’s why our Four Wing thing underpins all of our training. Because above all, minds matter.
Whatever challenges are presented to young people these days – Dragonfly helps schools to ensure that they are equipped for modern life. From self-esteem and exam pressures, to peer relationships and social media – working with those in educational settings of all types, Dragonfly Impact will empower a generation to seize the opportunities that today’s life throws at them. The result? Confident, positive, and emotionally healthy young people, who are adept at navigating the twenty-first century. We also have a network of wellbeing coaches throughout England who can support young people and the staff who look after them.
Established Expertise
Since Dragonfly Impact was established in 2018, we have worked with thousands of schools as well as with universities and businesses to learn what has the most impact on schools and young people. As a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, Founding Director, Rachael Bushby ensures she keeps up to date with current research and practice in education as well as through her Research Fellow position at the University of Birmingham in the Department for Education and Social Justice. Rachael Master’s degree in Character Education and PhD study on the topic of social and emotional curiosity contributes to the training Dragonfly designs for schools. As an ICF coach and coach trainer for the UK’s largest coach training agency, Rachael is passionate about bringing a coaching culture to schools and all the benefits of the psychological safety it affords.
Rachael Bushby
Founding Director
Dragonfly’s Vision
Why The Dragonfly?
Why We’re Good
“The presentation quality was exemplary. The trainers Claire and Rachael were truly superb whilst making the experience very personal too, and every module was supported by beautiful and professional resources and sources of more information for those that desired it.”
“There was a good balance of trainers teaching, delegate conversations (break out rooms), videos and statistics. It was really invaluable to be able to go back over the course material on the learning platform. Understanding different signs and symptoms of mental ill-health and having it all clearly explained was appreciated.”
“Claire and Rachael were both incredibly sensitive, flexible, supportive and knowledgeable. Both were so engaging throughout and they really couldn’t offer more for their learners. The online platform was very useful! This gave more flexibility and opportunity for catch ups when needed. An excellent idea if you have missed out on anything or need to look again.”