Schools across Europe are under increasing pressure. Around one-fifth of pupils are affected by issues such as anxiety or depressive moods, and school is often the first port of call. Yet teachers and school staff do not always have the right tools at their disposal to deal with this. At the same time, greater attention is being paid to teachers’ wellbeing at both European and national levels: workload, the school environment and relationships with pupils, parents and colleagues shape the quality of education just as much as subject-specific expertise. Academic success and mental wellbeing can no longer be considered in isolation from one another.

This is precisely where OPE comes in. The project brings together education authorities, schools (from early childhood education to secondary school level), training providers, NGOs and research institutions from Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Turkey and Austria to support school communities on their journey towards creating a supportive and resilient learning environment. The project is based on the concept of ‘academic optimism’ (Hoy, Tarter & Woolfolk Hoy) in conjunction with positive psychology: collective belief in one’s own efficacy, trust between teachers, learners and parents, and a shared focus on learning success. With this whole-school approach, OPE ties in directly with the EU initiative ‘Pathways to School Success’ and the objectives of the European Education Area 2030.

The project begins with a cross-national needs analysis: surveys and focus groups involving teachers, school leaders, school psychologists and policy-makers. The findings are incorporated directly into the development of the OPE competence framework and practical training modules. Using a ‘train-the-trainer’ model, training facilitators are first qualified, who then train teachers in their respective countries. These teachers implement the OPE approaches in their lessons over the course of a full school year – supported by mentoring, a self-assessment tool (OPERT) and an open online course (MOOC). Through several cycles of testing, validation and impact assessment, the materials are refined and prepared for wider use.

Key Findings & Impact

The project delivers:

• a cross-national needs assessment report providing a European overview and country-specific sections
• the OPE Competence Framework for academic optimism and self-efficacy in schools
• practical training modules for school staff, an international trainer training programme and a freely accessible MOOC
• the OPERT self-reflection tool (Optimistic Pathways in Education Reflection Tool)
• pilot schemes in schools across the partner countries, including an impact report with case studies
• policy recommendations and a sustainability action plan (“The Future of OPE”)
• an international online summit, the OPE network (OPE HUB) and “Looking Ahead” workshops in the partner countries

These findings are leading to tangible changes in practice. Teachers and school staff are expanding their pedagogical skills and acquiring practical strategies for fostering a trusting, optimistic school environment. Pupils/children are strengthening their mental resilience and learning skills, schools are developing sustainable, supportive educational ecosystems, and the findings provide an empirical basis for firmly embedding the issue of well-being in education policy and curricula.

Who benefits

The primary target group comprises teachers, school leaders, school psychologists and support staff. Pupils and their families benefit indirectly from a learning environment that focuses equally on wellbeing and academic achievement and strengthens cooperation between school and home. At an institutional level, schools are supported in establishing resilient and supportive structures. And at the systemic level, OPE actively involves policy-makers and stakeholders in order to ensure that effective approaches are sustained beyond the project’s duration and made transferable across Europe, in line with the European Education Area’s objectives on well-being at school.

Learn more: https://www.ope-project.eu/