At the Great Schools Trust, thriving schools are seen as those built not only on academic success but on emotional resilience. This belief sits at the heart of the Trust’s partnership with Liz Folan—Positive Psychology Specialist, coach, and founder of RISE Resilience—whose work has helped to embed well-being across the Trust.
With April marking Stress Awareness Month, it is a timely opportunity to celebrate the impact Liz has had and to reflect on her journey. With over 30 years of international teaching experience, Liz became acutely aware of the emotional challenges faced by students and staff. While working as a teacher, she observed passionate colleagues pushed to their limits and students struggling to cope: “I saw brilliant, passionate educators burning out. I saw children struggling, and schools stretched too thin to hold them properly. It became impossible to ignore that something deeper was missing.”
Liz’s own journey into well-being began with a period she refers to as “the grey area”—a time when life appeared fine outwardly but was secretly chipping away at her. Like many, she turned to unhelpful habits for comfort: “My drinking wasn’t dramatic, but it was regular, dependable, and insidious; quietly eroding my energy, confidence, and capacity. I was living in survival mode, self-medicating stress, ADHD, and emotional exhaustion with something that promised relief but always left me feeling worse.” Her decision to give up alcohol, she explains, marked a pivotal shift: “Sobriety gave me the space to feel again, to think clearly, and to choose how I wanted to live. That decision didn’t just change my habits—it changed my identity.”
This personal turning point coincided with her discovery of positive psychology— “not just as an academic field, but a lifeline. Positive psychology is a science-backed, practical field dedicated to exploring and nurturing what’s strong rather than focusing solely on what’s wrong. At its core, it invites us to harness our innate strengths—like creativity, perseverance, and kindness—and use evidence-based tools to transform obstacles into opportunities for growth.” Liz began fastidiously applying these tools to her own life, before bringing her knowledge into the classroom and even creating well-being groups for students and staff. She saw how small, actionable practices could shift mindset, mood, and motivation—even in the most challenging environments.
When Liverpool John Moores University launched its MSc in Positive Psychology and Wellbeing back in 2018, there was no doubt that Liz would be in its first cohort. Her studies were completed while delivering online teaching during the pandemic, managing her own children’s education as a single mum, and navigating a world in crisis. Reflecting on this time, Liz states: “It was intense, but it felt like everything I’d lived through was preparing me for it. I graduated with a distinction, not just academically, but emotionally and personally. Because I wasn’t just studying positive psychology—I was living it!”
Liz later channelled her experience and training into the creation of RISE Resilience, a four-stage programme that supports individuals through self-discovery, emotional regulation, habit formation, and growth. The programme moves through Recognise (developing self-awareness), Ignite (introducing evidence-based tools), Strengthen (embedding practices into daily life), and Expand (sharing progress with others). At its heart is the belief that Believing + Beginning = Becoming, a mindset that encourages action as the pathway to lasting transformation.
The partnership between Liz and the Great Schools Trust began through a conversation with Senior Safeguarding Lead Steven Panter, who recognised that RISE could offer not just support for individuals, but a foundation for wider change. Since then, Liz has delivered an extensive range of support, including tailored workshops, one-to-one coaching, and bespoke wellbeing programmes.
At King’s Leadership Academy Liverpool, Liz works closely with Year 11 students, helping them develop emotional regulation, study skills, and focused routines. Her “Power Hour” sessions integrate neuroscience, coaching, and wellbeing tools to help students navigate pressure and build resilience. Liz also introduces concepts such as Mel Robbins’ “Let Them” theory, which supports students in shifting from frustration to empowerment. In addition to group work, Liz provides tailored one-to-one coaching at King’s Liverpool and King’s Phoenix, co-creating wellbeing plans that reflect each student’s strengths and needs. The results have been compelling, with many students reporting increased academic performance—some by two or three grades—as well as improvements in attendance, mindset, friendships, and self-confidence. “The feedback speaks for itself—less stress and overwhelm, more joy, clarity and connection.”
Liz amplifies her message through her podcast RISE (co-hosted with writer and therapist Julia Carson), and her weekly segment on Liverpool Live Radio. Her Friday morning “Constellation of Hope” feature showcases outstanding well-being work taking place both in the Liverpool region and beyond.
Liz has even featured several members of the Great Schools Trust on her radio show, showcasing their dedication to student and staff wellbeing. She invited Steven Panter to discuss the excellent initiatives his team is implementing to protect and support children across the Trust. She also featured Kath Oldfield, Head of Year 11 and Academic Performance at Kings Liverpool, who shared her story of becoming a world champion in 4X cycling and who inspires her students to dig deep and find their own grit. More recently, Ben Barker, Principal of King’s Wavertree, joined the show to explain how his vision to apply innovative AI tools will transform education by reducing teacher workload and enhancing creativity and collaboration in schools.
To mark Stress Awareness Month, Liz has shared ten practical, RISE-inspired strategies to help students and staff across the Great Schools Trust family to manage stress in meaningful ways:
Recognise (Awareness & Mindset Shifts)
Inspire (Learning & Connection)
Strengthen (Habits & Strengths Use)
Exercise Outdoors (Nature & Movement)
Bonus RISE Practice
Reflecting on her work with the Trust, Liz says, “Working with the Great Schools Trust feels like a genuine partnership and is one of the most rewarding and impactful parts of my journey. The leadership understands the value of embedding wellbeing into the culture of education.”
The Great Schools Trust also deeply values its partnership with Liz and looks forward to continuing this powerful collaboration to further embed wellbeing and empower students to thrive. As Liz so aptly puts it: “Together, we’re helping students and staff not just survive the pressures of modern education, but truly RISE.”
To learn more about Liz Folan’s programmes, podcast, or coaching, visit lizfolan.com or tune in to Liverpool Live Radio every Friday morning.