Wakefield Grammar Pre-Preparatory School awarded Bronze Standard for Outstanding Mental Health and Wellbeing Provision.

Wakefield Grammar Pre-Preparatory School has achieved the Bronze Standard School Mental Health Award. The award given by Leeds Carnegie Centre of Excellence in collaboration with the charity Minds Ahead, recognises the correlation between positive mental health and successful educational outcomes. It is awarded to schools who have made mental health a strategic priority, developing a culture that fosters positive mental health and wellbeing.

Jenny Taylor, Pastoral and Mental Health Lead and Assistant Head said: “The Carnegie Mental Health Award has had a significant impact on our pastoral and mental health provision across Wakefield Grammar Pre-Preparatory School. Over the last 18 months we have made it a priority to listen to ideas and feedback from our children, their parents and staff. We have ensured that our approaches and initiatives have been generated and developed through discussion and consultation with them. The award reflects the fact that our staff understand the importance of connection, building strong, open and supportive relationships with all our children. The Pastoral Team works with creativity, sensitivity and dedication delivering whole school initiatives. They ensure that any pastoral interventions are delivered in a way that makes a genuine, positive difference to the children. We know that the emotional health of children is the strongest predictor of happiness in adulthood and we want all of our children to grow up to be happy, confident, independent people. The award is part of a journey, and achieving Bronze is just the start. We will continue to develop and improve our pastoral provision and go on to achieve Silver and Gold in the future. ’

Wakefield Grammar Pre-Preparatory School, also shortlisted for best experiential learning in 2023 (by Muddy Stilettos), provides a wide range of activities which teach the importance of better understanding mental health such as teaching the children about the importance of keeping their brains healthy. Teaching children about neuroplasticity at its most simplest form opens the doors to understanding growth mindset, embracing mistakes and obstacles. Along with lunchtime clubs such as Lego, yoga and mindfulness the children have weekly Philosophy for Children sessions where they immerse themselves in texts and view situations from others’ points of view showing their developed emotional literacy skills. The ‘Zones of Regulation’ is firmly embedded within the school and the children can identify their emotions and triggers by using their identified strategies from their emotional toolkit  to self-regulate and manage their emotions.  

The school also provides support for parents. This includes in person events and guides for parents to help their young children with issues such as sleep, resilience and nutrition, for example.  Regular contact with parents and mental health and mindfulness advice in the bespoke school organisers, enhances the support Wakefield Grammar Pre-Preparatory School provides. 

Rachel Boyle, Dean of Leeds Beckett’s Carnegie School of Education, said: “Achieving this award goes way beyond a whole-school approach to mental health; it is recognition of Wakefield Grammar Pre-Preparatory School’s commitment to improving the outcomes and life chances of all its students.”