At Barlby High School, the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of our school community is at the heart of all that we do.
Wellbeing Award for Schools
The Wellbeing Award for Schools focuses on ensuring effective practice and provision is in place that promotes the emotional wellbeing and mental health of both staff and students. The award has a focus on changing the long-term culture of a school, and embedding an ethos where mental health is regarded as the responsibility of all.
Holding this award allows us to:
- Show our commitment to promoting mental health as part of school life
- Improve the emotional wellbeing of staff and pupils
- Ensure that mental health problems are identified early and that appropriate, timely support is provided
- Offer provisions and interventions that match the needs of our pupils and staff
- Engage the whole-school community in the importance of mental health awareness
- Capture the views of parents, students and staff on mental health issues
The Award Objectives
The WAS has eight objectives which focus on areas of evaluation, development and celebration of the work of schools in promoting and protecting emotional wellbeing and positive mental health. Each of these areas is further broken down into Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
The school is committed to promoting and protecting positive emotional wellbeing and mental health by achieving the Wellbeing Award for Schools.
The school has a clear vision and strategy for promoting and protecting emotional wellbeing and mental health, which is communicated to all involved with the school.
The school has a positive culture which regards emotional wellbeing and mental health as the responsibility of all.
The school actively promotes staff emotional wellbeing and mental health.
The school prioritises professional learning and staff development on emotional wellbeing and mental health.
The school understands the different types of emotional and mental health needs across the whole-school community and has systems in place to respond appropriately.
The school actively seeks the ongoing participation of the whole-school community in its approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health.
The school works in partnerships with other schools, agencies and available specialist services to support emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Information for Parents/Carers
The thrive model places emphasis on prevention and early intervention to support a young person’s mental health and wellbeing, to ensure that they can thrive. Supporting the 5 Ways to Wellbeing approach at home, to complement the work in school will support wellbeing.
As parents and carers, there are also other ways to support young people to give them the best chance to stay mentally healthy.
These tips are based on advice from the NHS ‘Better Health: Every Mind Matters’ campaign:
- Be there to listen
- Value what they say
- Support through difficulties
- Encourage their interests
- Build positive routines
These approaches are explained further in the gallery below – just scroll through the images to find out more.
Wellbeing Links & Documents
“Thank you for your help in supporting us and our children. You are always responsive and helpful and we are grateful for that.”
Parent Survey | 2024
Wellbeing Contacts
Barlby High School is a caring school. If you have any worries or concerns, and would like to speak to somebody in school, there are plenty of people who you can talk to:
Form Tutor – Your Form Tutor will see you on most days during form time. Just mention to them that you need a bit of help and they will point you in the right direction.
Class Teachers – All of your subject teachers have received training in social and emotional health.
Heads of House – Your Head of House will always be willing to listen to any worries you may have, operating an ‘open door’ policy.
Student Liaison Officer – We have a team of staff who are available to listen to your worries and sign post you to the best support and advice.
Safeguarding Team – If you are worried about someone else or yourself speak to Mrs Gardner or Miss Lambert.
Wellbeing in Mind Team – A team of NHS professionals working in school to offer support to students experiencing common emotional wellbeing difficulties (referral from Head of House).
Anouska Gardner
Principal & Designated Safeguarding Lead
Miss Lambert
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mark Gibson-Field
Clinical Lead
Freya Taylor
Education Mental Health Practitioner
Mental Health First Aiders and The Mental Health & Wellbeing Team
For students needing extra support with their social, emotional or mental health. We have a large team of trained staff to talk to – Mrs Denham, Miss Lambert, Mrs Bramhill, Mrs Briggs, Mrs Hearld, Mrs Milne, Miss Sempers and Mr McNaught.
A drop-in service is available before school, after school and at break times (see posters around the school)
House Leaders
Please contact your child’s House Leader in the first instance. They can refer students to the Wellbeing in Mind team for advice or support if appropriate.
Aqua House: Mr J Dale
Ignis House: Mrs Sergeant & Miss Sempers
Terra House: Miss Hardcastle
Ventus House: Mr Rinaldi
Self-Help: Useful Links and Documents
The thrive model places emphasis on prevention and early intervention to support a young person’s mental health and wellbeing, to ensure that they can thrive. This includes the use of self-help materials. Some common wellbeing and mental health issues are explored below through self-help guides. Clicking on the tiles will direct you to information and simple self-help strategies which can be trialled to improve mental wellbeing. Each sheet includes a range of ideas so that suitable ones can be chosen.
These self-help materials have been created in conjunction with the NHS Wellbeing in Mind Team.
Apps to help support your mental health
These apps can help you support your mental health and wellbeing in conjunction with the self-help guides above. All the apps listed can be found on the NHS Apps Library, an online directory of trusted health and wellbeing apps that have been assessed to be clinically safe and secure to use. The apps listed have also been reviewed by health app evaluation and advisor organisation ORCHA.
My Possible Self: The Mental Health App (Free, with in-app purchases)
Take control of your thoughts, feelings and behaviour with the My Possible Self mental health app. Use the simple learning modules to manage fear, anxiety and stress and tackle unhelpful thinking. Record your experiences and track symptoms to better understand your mental health.
Stress & Anxiety Companion (Free, with in-app purchases)
Stress & Anxiety Companion helps you handle stress and anxiety on-the-go. Using breathing exercises, relaxing music and games designed to calm the mind, the app helps you change negative thoughts to help you better cope with life’s ups and downs.
Catch it (Free)
Learn how to manage feelings like anxiety and low mood with Catch It. The app will teach you how to look at problems in a different way, turn negative thoughts into positive ones and improve your mental wellbeing.
Kooth (Free)
Free, safe and anonymous support. Helpful articles, personal experiences and tips from young people and the Kooth team. Discussion Boards; Start or join a conversation with the friendly Kooth community. Lots of topics to choose from!
Feeling Good: positive mindset (Free, with in-app purchases)
Relax your body and mind with a series of audio tracks designed to help you build confidence, energy and a positive mindset.
Chill Panda (Free)
Learn to relax, manage your worries and improve your wellbeing with Chill Panda. The app measures your heart rate and suggests tasks to suit your state of mind. Tasks include simple breathing techniques and light exercises to take your mind off your worries.
eQoo: Emotional Fitness Game (Free, with in-app purchases)
The eQuoo app uses adventure games designed by psychologists to help you increase your emotional fitness and teach you new psychological skills. You’ll also find tips on how to communicate more effectively and maintain your mental wellbeing.
Calm (Free, with in-app purchases)
Calm is an app for sleep and meditation. Join the millions experiencing better sleep, lower stress, and less anxiety.