Here is a clear summary of the yawning data collected across all participating schools.
Every group stepped into our intentionally created SAFE Room — a space with very clear expectations:
The only things pupils could talk about were yawning.
The only actions they could take were yawning, drawing about yawning, or writing about yawning.
This room was designed to feel predictable, contained, and non-judgemental, giving pupils permission to settle without pressure.
No meditation.
No yoga.
No breathing exercises.
Just the everyday behaviour their body naturally uses when it feels safe enough to let go.
Inside this environment, each group took part in a 5–7 minute Yawnathon within a standard 15-minute session.
Below is a quick snapshot of the combined results from all schools:
Combined Yawning Data – 32 Schools, 1,600 Pupils
Total participants: ~1,600
Number of schools/groups: 32
Session length: 15 minutes
Yawnathon window: 5–7 minutes
Total yawns recorded: 15351
Highest yawn total in a single day: 2320
Lowest yawn total in a single day: 770
What We Consistently Observed
Pupils began yawning naturally as soon as the SAFE Room rules were introduced.
Once the first yawn happened, the whole room typically joined in within seconds.
Pupils reported feeling calmer, more settled, or “like my body feels better now.”
Staff noted a visible shift in attention and body posture as yawns increased.
The SAFE Room structure helped pupils understand what was expected, which reduced social pressure and increased comfort.
Why This Matters for Schools
Because these sessions were short, practical, and delivered in busy environments, where children came (apart from the first session) from a high intense state from the phone robbery in the Police room; the changes we saw were purely natural responses — not techniques.
The data suggests that yawning is a reliable indicator that pupils are:
regulating themselves,
adapting to the environment,
releasing tension, and
getting ready to re-engage with learning.
It’s a simple, accessible way to understand pupil wellbeing through what their bodies are already doing.
Next Steps
We would be delighted to share with your organisation your own unique experience with us and discuss what it may reveal about your teams.
If your team would like to explore how to create a SAFE Room in your own school or organisation, we offer:
1-day training to introduce SAFE Room principles, or
2-day training for staff who wish to embed it into classroom and wellbeing practice.
- Full Day / Half a Day /Weekly Workshops delivered by our team to pupils including, Art, Music, Poetry and more
Context: Children’s Mental Health & Nervous-System Regulation https://thegreatbigyawn.org/
Recent national data shows that in 2023, around 1 in 5 children and young people aged 8–25 in England had a probable mental health disorder. NHS England Digital+2NHS England+2
For 8–16-year-olds specifically, that figure was about 20.3%. NHS England Digital+1
Given that many struggle with anxiety, overwhelm, emotional dysregulation — our work using the principles of Polyvagal Theory (safety, co-regulation, nervous-system regulation) may help address these widespread challenges. Polyvagal Institute+2ResearchGate+2
In short: with such high levels of stress, anxiety and emotional need in children today — a simple SAFE Room and Yawnathon can be a gentle, effective first step toward helping many of them settle, regulate, and feel safer.
We will also include if requested a full appendix with the detailed data including the social science information.
Rachel Earing
Founder Live4energy Training College
by 