Harrogate Living Apr - May 2024

PASTORAL CARE
in schools
Children’s mental health has hit
a worrying low, according to a
raft of research from charities
and professional bodies. From
anxieties caused by exam
stress and social media to the
devastating toll of the pandemic,
the picture has never been starker.
MENTAL HEALTH
SUPPORT IN SCHOOLS
Schools have a key part to play both
in terms of prevention and picking
up the pieces when things escalate,
but the picture here isn’t great either.
‘Provision in schools is patchy and
fragmented – having a counsellor isn’t
even mandatory in schools,’ says
David Stephenson, senior policy and
campaigns officer at the charity Mind.
Good news is that Ofsted and ISI
now assess personal development,
which includes mental health in
schools. Areas such as resilience,
confidence, independence, and
how to keep mentally healthy are all
covered. As part of pastoral care in
schools, all schools have to provide
a mental health and relationships
curriculum, and the government has
committed to a £1,200 training grant
for each school to ensure a whole
school approach, albeit by 2025.
AWARENESS TRAINING
FOR TEACHERS
A positive step towards good mental
health in children is the growth in
training staff in mental health first aid.
At Lord Wandsworth College, a co-ed
day and boarding senior school in
Hampshire, this goes for all staff. ‘It
means they know what to look out for
and what to do when a pupil comes
to them – in some cases that will be
a listening ear and reassurance, other
times support or signposting,’ says
headteacher Adam Williams, who
adds that staff wellbeing in schools is
also a priority for them.
PEER SUPPORT
The school has a peer mentoring
programme whereby young people
are trained to support one another
and break down the stigma often
associated by mental health.
‘Sometimes you feel safer and more
8 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
comfortable talking to someone
nearer your age – and they are just
more likely to understand,’ said a
pupil on our recent visit. The school
also involves parents, running talks
and giving practical advice on how
to support teenagers.
WELLBEING HUBS
A dedicated wellbeing hub is one
way to address mental health issues
in children. At Malvern St James, an
all-through girls’ day and boarding
school, The Hive is described by Zinnia
Wilkinson, director of pastoral care,
as ‘a comfortable, welcoming space
where pupils can just be but also see
a counsellor for a 30-minute session
just for one or two weeks because
sometimes that’s all they need.’
MENTAL HEALTH VS
GRADES
Wilkinson points out that parents
often perceive a school to be good
pastorally or academically, but not
both. ‘In fact if a school is pastorally
strong, it’s in the best position to
thrive academically,’ she says.
Sophie Blunt, housemistress
at Wycombe Abbey, a day and
boarding senior school for girls,
agrees. Outstanding pastoral care
might not be the first thing you
think of at one of the top academic
schools for girls, and yet many of
the parents we spoke to whose
daughters had needed intervention
were full of praise for how the school
had responded. ‘Wellbeing education
is at the heart of our curriculum – it’s
on timetable for every girl,’ she says.
For Dean Taylor, associate headteacher
at Seven Kings School, a co-ed state
school for 4-18 in east London, it’s the
relationship between staff and pupils
that holds the key to positive mental
health in schools. ‘The ethos is more
important than anything and you can
walk around this school and see that it’s
inclusive, friendly, safe and with clear
and consistent boundaries,’ he says.
The school pays particular attention to
pressure points such as exam time and
makes sure every child has a trusted
adult. There’s a joined-up approach
with the SENCO too, in the knowledge
that youngsters with conditions such as
ADHD and autism can be particularly
at risk of mental health problems. ‘The
most vulnerable pupils have a onepage
profile that’s shared with all staff,’
he adds.
DISCIPLINE
Nearly half of young people are
disciplined at school for behaviour
related to their mental health, according
to Mind’s latest research. One in four
school staff were aware of a student
being excluded from school because of
their mental health. Seven Kings avoids
this by never taking behaviour at face
value. ‘It’s about conversations and
getting pupils to reflect if they’ve broken
rules. Were you in the right place at the
right time with the right people, and if
not what can we do to fix that? Who
was affected? And what could you do
next time? These repetitive questions
from all staff help them self-regulate,’
says Taylor.
The full article is available to read
online - Article from The Good
Schools Guide - an excellent resource
for parents. goodschoolsguide.co.uk