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A secondary school based in Outwood, Wakefield, has been awarded Gold Status by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health Award.

This award, led by Carnegie School of Education and Minds Ahead CIC, ensures schools are using evidence-based approaches, aligned to the latest professional guidelines surrounding mental health.

The assessment report found a 鈥榮trong sense of an open and trusting culture鈥� at Outwood Grange Academy and that the Potovens Lane-based academy had 鈥榰sed the framework and content of the Award to very good effect to develop their mental health and wellbeing strategies, structures, and practices from a strong starting point.鈥�

Sheriden Hutchinson-Jones, Principal at Outwood Grange Academy, said:

鈥淲e are delighted to have been awarded Gold Status. It is an incredible achievement for the academy and it recognises the hard work of our outstanding students and staff.

鈥淎t Outwood we are dedicated to putting students first and this goes beyond the classroom for us. We want to ensure our students are supported and are good citizens that can play positive active roles in the community at the point they leave us, as well as achieving academically. 

鈥淭o this aim, we want to make sure their mental health and wellbeing is looked after. We take immense pride in this award and we look forward to continuing to support our staff and students as best we can to help them fulfil their potential.鈥�

Within the assessment report is glowing praise of the academy鈥檚 鈥榗ommunity of openness,鈥� it stated:

鈥淪taff have the confidence to manage low level mental health concerns with both colleagues and pupils; everyone in the community is much more willing to speak out if they are struggling so issues are picked up early, and the student mental health ambassadors have been able to pick up pupils that may usually go under the radar.鈥�

The academy鈥檚 work to build positive relationships with parents and local community was also praised, as was its online learning offering.

Sheriden added:

鈥淲e are all aware of how tough the last year and a bit has been. We believe the best way to get through these tough periods is to work together which is why we are so determined to build positive relationships with our academy community. Ultimately, this can only help our students in getting the best education possible.鈥� 

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

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