The Queen Katherine School, Kendal receives mental health award

A Kendal school has achieved the School Mental Health Award which is delivered by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools. The Queen Katherine School was awarded a Silver standard for its outstanding mental health and wellbeing provision.

The Queen Katherine School provides a wide range of activities to boost the well-being of students and staff, including mindfulness sessions, peer support groups, outdoor education courses and wellbeing weeks to name but a few.

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The school has also invested in training 15 staff in iMatter the child and adult relationship health project along with a range of other interventions for young people firmly focussed on need.

Jon Hayes, Headteacher said: "I am extremely proud of the work we have done to support mental health as a school community and this award is the culmination of two years of hard work.

"It is great to have the work that we are doing to support the mental health and wellbeing of our school community recognised in this way. This award is a reflection of what goes on in school on a daily basis."

The award was established in 2017 by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools – part of Leeds Beckett University – and social enterprise Minds Ahead.

The Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools aims to strengthen students’ mental health by supporting schools to make a positive change at all levels of the UK's education system, improving students’ outcomes and life chances.

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Doctor Steve Burton, Interim Dean of Leeds Beckett’s Carnegie School of Education:
“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 and engaging with the wider community including staff and parents/carers.
We’re truly proud to have worked with The Queen Katherine School in this vital work and look forward to further collaboration.”

Nationally, more than 1000 schools have signed up to take part in the Mental Health Award

Geraldine Wade, Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead said: “At The Queen Katherine School we know that our student's mental health and wellbeing is hugely important and our work to support young people underpins everything we do. This Silver Award is testament to the relentless drive and passion we have for supporting students and to be awarded the Silver standard demonstrates our commitment to student wellbeing.”