Congratulations to Chestnut Park for earning the Bronze Mental Health Champion School Award in recognition of its dedication to pupil wellbeing and student leadership.
Headteacher Emmee Standeven explained that supporting pupil mental health is a priority for the school: “At Chestnut Park, our mission is to provide an extraordinary education where every child feels valued, supported, and inspired. We recognised that for pupils to thrive academically, their emotional wellbeing must come first.”
To earn the award, the school adopted a variety of measures to bolster the emotional wellbeing of its pupils, including:
- Incorporating the school’s HEART values (Honesty, Empathy, Appreciation, Respect, Trust) into all activities.
- Implementing Thrive approaches to aid emotional regulation and promote pupil wellbeing.
- Conducting regular pupil voice sessions to ensure children feel listened to and empowered.
- Offering dedicated staff training to enhance confidence and consistency when supporting mental health.
- Strengthening partnerships with parents, carers, and external agencies to ensure a cohesive approach.
These have positively influenced pupils:
- Children show increased emotional resilience and confidence.
- Pupils feel safe, supported, and at ease when sharing their feelings.
- Better attendance, engagement, and learning outcomes due to a focus on wellbeing.
For schools aiming to improve their wellbeing provision, Emmee offered this advice: “Make wellbeing part of the culture, not an add-on. When staff feel supported, pupils flourish too.”
And for parents seeking to support their children, Emmee suggests they: “Listen without judgement, celebrate small wins, and remember that positive mental health starts with feeling understood.”
