An independent school in Harrogate has launched a raft of new initiatives to promote good mental health and wellbeing.
As part of the innovations introduced over the past two years, Ashville College has teamed up with Harrogate GP and mental health expert Sarah Hattam, from Concilio Health, as resident advisor.
The school is drawing upon her expertise to offer practical support and training on issues such as rest and recharge, sleep, menopause support and upskilling people to be the best they can be.
Since the height of the pandemic, a study by the National Library of Medicine has revealed the number of young people battling mental health issues has more than doubled.
And according to a recent global survey, mental health and overtaken cancer and obesity as Britons’ biggest health worry for the first time.
Yet it’s not just pupils - many schools have also found an increasing number of teachers and staff are feeling burnt-out or exhausted by the struggle to re-establish norms, compounded by the marked change in pupils’ behavioural trends.
The sense of pressure for both pupils and staff has also been exacerbated more recently by the removal of COVID “cushions” built into external exams, pushing the bar higher when it comes to results.
With World Mental Health Day focusing on burn-out in the workplace on Thursday 10th October, Ashville has already opened its own Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre for pupils staffed by experts in the field of mental health.
A new position of Deputy Head (Staff) has also been created to listen to and champion feedback from teachers.
The Ashville Staff Association also offers the school’s employees a forum to raise any ideas and concerns.
The school’s Head, Rhiannon Wilkinson, said:
“At Ashville, we want to celebrate our staff and recognise what a valuable resource they are - and that means that we need to listen to them and what they have to say.
“We have therefore developed systems and protocols to support, restore improve and maintain their mental health and well-being. After all, a staff body which is engaged and happy also has a positive impact on our pupils.
“Yet we recognise sustainable change doesn’t happen overnight. Sarah Hattam’s role is to help us ensure we’re constantly reviewing our policies and offering both training and practical support where necessary.”
The school has also consulted experts Mungo Dunnett to offer a holistic view of the challenges facing the education sector in 2024.
Internal Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes have also been introduced for aspiring senior and middle leaders, timings for Parents’ Evening have been reviewed, free flu jabs and assistance with child support are offered to staff while new members of the team join an “onboarding” programme developed to offer a positive, friendly and supportive introduction to life at Ashville.
For those who may need it, a menopause group has also been established following advice from Me and My Menopause, offering access to an individualised action plan which can be taken to healthcare providers as a template for the best support and treatment.
Mrs Wilkinson added:
“If we are to offer first class holistic education for our pupils, how can we enable them to become the best version of themselves - to be energised, resilient, successful members of society - if their teachers are not in the best place to facilitate this journey?
“By creating a positive working environment with a common purpose, by listening to what our colleagues have to say and optimising performance through improved wellbeing, within the constraints of a school and business environment, we hope to make Ashville College the school of first choice in the Harrogate area with a reputation for delivering excellent outcomes for the pupils entrusted to our care.”
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