NEWS
Award scheme recognises
schools building better mental health
From September 2017, a new Wellbeing Award for Schools, presented by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) and Optimus Education Ltd (part of Prospects Services Group), will recognise outstanding work being done to promote mental health and wellbeing within school communities across England.
An NCB survey in 2016 showed many school leaders reported dramatic increases in the number of students suffering from mental health and wellbeing issues over the past five years. More than half (55%) said there had been a large increase in anxiety or stress, and over 40% reported a big increase in the problem of cyberbullying. Nearly eight out of ten (79%) reported an increase in self-harm or suicidal thoughts amongst students.
This new award will recognise schools that embed a culture which values the happiness and emotional welfare of all its pupils. Both the Department for Education and Ofsted have supported this approach, stressing that promoting good mental health is the responsibility of all members of a school community: its staff and governors, parents and pupils, and partner organisations beyond the school gates. Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive of the National Children’s Bureau said:
‘Children today face new challenges – such as the demands of 24-hour connectivity on social media, cyber-bullying and sexting. They’re also under huge pressure to do well in exams, in the face of an increasingly competitive jobs market. ‘Time and again research has shown these pressures are resulting in a rising tide of mental health issues amongst the young. But as well as helping those with problems, we need to create a positive climate where wellbeing and happiness can bloom. For schools, this means ensuring that mental health is everyone’s business. We’re so excited that this award will recognise schools who’ve risen to the challenge, and are making pupil wellbeing a priority.’
www.ncb.org.uk
15 year old Reanne MacRae from Inverness, who attends the city’s Millburn Academy, has won the school’s live project to design a large mural for SYHA Hostelling Scotland’s Inverness Youth Hostel, situated next door to the school. SYHA Hostelling Scotland’s Northern Operations Manager, Dan Osborne, invited Millburn Academy to paint a mural on a section of wall running from the car park towards the hostel’s reception. The brief was to submit a design for a painted mural that would not only be a welcome to Inverness for guests coming to the youth hostel from all over the world but also convey something of the identity of the local area. Millburn Academy set 3rd Year students (General Education Art and Design) a live design brief, giving them essential experience of the
Millburn Academy ensures a warm welcome to Inverness Youth Hostel
world of work, and 44 pupils aged 13 to 15 were involved in submitting designs, some individually and some in small groups.
Gavin Maclean, Rector of Millburn Academy, said: “Our pupils have enjoyed and benefitted tremendously from the opportunity to work with one of our community partners on a live project, to work to a creative design brief, present and ultimately complete the project at Inverness Youth Hostel. The chosen design clearly reflected a multicultural approach to welcoming tourism to the Highlands.”
John Jones, Inverness Youth Hostel Manger, said: “The standard of the designs was very high and showed considerable artistic ability in the young people of the area; as well as a great deal of pride and a strong sense of identity.” Reanne MacRae will be rewarded for her winning design with a weekend stay in an SYHA Youth Hostel of her choice for her and her family. Certificates will also be presented to all pupils who took part in the live project and in the final painting of the giant Loch Ness Monster design.
www.millburnacademy.co.uk
“Young chef of the year” challenge for Lancashire schools
Chefs from The Grove Hotel in Watford and Hertfordshire-based Nutritional Therapist and Educational Consultant Katharine Tate, who is known as The Food Teacher, have teamed up to create an innovative project for the Healthier Fleetwood partnership in Lancashire which focuses on improving the long-term wellbeing of local residents.
Their aim is to work with local primary schools to potentially uncover a future Gordon Ramsey or Mary Berry by launching the Town’s ‘Young Chef of the Year’ competition. According to Katharine, “Teaching children the importance of food for their health is essential and this challenge provides that opportunity within a purposeful and engaging context. This is a wonderful opportunity to create an engaging and innovative program in one community that we can bring to other areas in the future”
Katharine and her team of teachers have created a project that will see all the primary schools across Fleetwood taking part with their Year 5 students taking up the challenge of designing a three course meal for their ‘HERO’ for under £10. Along the way the children will learn chef skills, seasonality, cooking methods, food hygiene and safety, where food comes from and healthy diets. The teaching will also cross over into other areas of the curriculum such as English,
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www.education-today.co.uk
Science, Maths, Geography, ICT and Art and Design. A contribution towards the funding for the ingredients has been provided by the local football club’s Community Trust. Among the resources available to the schools will be videos from Katharine and Harry Lomas MBE, former Chef to Her Majesty the Queen State and Ceremonial, and recent winner of the prestigious People’s Choice award from the Craft Guild of Chefs. “Chef Harry has been instrumental in developing essential chef skills into the awards to motivate and interest children in food, cooking, presentation and hospitality.” Katharine added.
“Eating the right food can bring about major health benefits both physically and mentally for all of us. So, let’s get cooking!”
www.fleetwoodyoungchef.co.uk June 2017
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