A REDDITCH school has achieved ‘Gold Standard’ for its outstanding mental health and wellbeing provision.
St Bede’s Catholic Middle School, based on Holloway Lane, was presented the award by Leeds Beckett University which runs the ‘Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools’ initiative.
It aims to strengthen pupils’ mental health by supporting schools to make necessary and positive changes.
St Bede’s has a wide range of activities to boost the wellbeing of its pupils and staff, including mindfulness sessions and a range of pastoral interventions.
The school also has seven members of staff who are trained in mental health first aid.
Headteacher Luke Payton said he was extremely proud of all the hard work and determination from pupils, parents, staff and governors to achieve the award.
“It is pleasing to see the work that we do recognised as a beacon of good practice.”
Professor Damien Page, Dean of Leeds Beckett’s Carnegie School of Education, said: “Achieving this award is not just recognition of a whole-school approach to mental health, it’s a recognition of the school’s commitment to improving the life chances of children.”
