A BRADFORD school has achieved the School Mental Health Award which is delivered by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools.

Horton Grange Primary School – part of Exceed Academies Trust – were awarded a silver standard for its outstanding mental health and wellbeing provision.

Horton Grange provides a wide range of activities for pupils and staff, including mindfulness lessons, tea and talk drop-in sessions, open discussions and working closely with referral services across the district.

An area that has been vital over the last year is the support offered to pupils and families throughout periods of home schooling which has continued upon the return to school with a strong focus on wellbeing as part of the curriculum.

Horton Grange head teacher Rebecca Marshall said: “I am extremely proud of the continued hard work and dedication of my staff and our collaboration with parents and carers that has led to the school achieving this prestigious award.

"Mental health and wellbeing provision is at the core of our curriculum and has never been more important than it is right now and we will continue to ensure our pupils, staff and families are supported going forward."

A focal point of the school’s mental health and wellbeing provision is the establishment of trained mental health first aiders and mental health champions who provide support and signposting across all phases of school supporting both pupils and staff.

Lynda Salthouse, Mental Health First Aider, added: “ The whole school have been working hard to establish a safe, supportive environment for mental health discussion over the last three years.

"The staff and children have responded with enthusiasm and fantastic ideas to promote positive mental health.

"Conversations are taking place which would not have happened before and we want to ensure our staff feel supported at work and our young people have the tools to help them as they navigate through life.”

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 pupils’ 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.

Professor Damien Page, Dean of Leeds Beckett’s Carnegie School of Education, said: “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 Horton Grange 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.

Dean Johnstone, founder and CEO of Minds Ahead, said: “This award shines a light on the excellent work schools are doing to promote mental health for their community of children and adults.

“It is thrilling and humbling to learn about Horton Grange and the many other schools engaged in the quality award process. I’d like to offer my congratulations on this deserved recognition.”