Schools lauded for high priority placed on pupil mental health

The work undertaken by schools to address mental health issues for schoolchildren in Southwark has been recognised at an awards ceremony.

A total of 21 schools received certificates to mark the excellence of their approach.

Southwark council’s £2m programme with school staff, local services and experts is aimed at improving mental health and resilience in schools (IMHARS for short) and has benefitted more than 25,000 pupils so far.

The money set aside for the project has helped nearly 100 schools provide their young students with a range of support and education to improve their well-being.

Projects include poetry workshops and a mindfulness garden. More than 20 schools are working on shared projects, such as art therapy, residential trips and drama workshops.

Nine schools achieved the ‘Wellbeing First IMHARS First Steps award’. They were Beormund Primary, Rye Oak Primary, Harris Girls, East Dulwich, Southwark Park Primary, Bessemer Grange Primary, Grange Primary, Peter Hills CE Primary, Maudsley & Bethlem Hospital School and Snowfields Primary.

A further 11 achieved the ‘Healthy Schools’ awards: Michael Faraday Primary, Surrey Square Primary, John Keats Primary, Ivydale Primary, Heber Primary, Riverside Primary, Dog Kennel Hill, The Grove Nursery, Keyworth Primary, St Georges CE Primary and Phoenix Primary.

The ceremony was hosted by Millwall Football Club.

Pia Longman, headteacher at Peter Hills CofE Primary School, said: “We’ve found that funding has made a huge difference. We’ve been able to run programmes that help us target individuals that were at crisis point and families we knew were struggling.

“The children have developed a greater sense of resilience. Their communication has improved. Their behaviour with each other is much better. They have a better understanding of their own emotional well-being.”

A key strand of the council’s programme is including children’s mental health in training and development for all school staff.

In more than 95 schools across Southwark, more than 300 Mental Health First Aiders can now spot the early signs of mental health issues in a young person.

To build on this hard work and success, schools worked with The Nest and other local partners to develop the ‘Well-being First’ awards scheme. The Nest is Southwark’s drop-in mental health service for young people on Rye Lane in Peckham.

Councillor Jasmine Ali, deputy leader and cabinet member for children, young people and education, said: “We owe it to our young people to prepare them for any challenges that come their way.

“We want them to progress through school and into the world with confidence and self-awareness. But we couldn’t do this without our fantastic schools.

“Every day Southwark’s teachers and school staff are helping us to build the resilience of our children and young people. I am so proud that our work together means children’s well-being is at the very core of education in Southwark.”

Pictured top: School representatives gathered at The Den, home of Millwall FC, to collect awards which recognised good work being done in the field of pupil mental health (Picture: Southwark council)