A Pontefract-based primary school 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 that Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane has been ‘excelling across all eight competencies’ used as a framework for the award, and that it had ‘used the framework and content of the Award to very good effect to further develop their mental health and wellbeing strategies, structures and practices.’

Despite the ongoing circumstances surrounding the pandemic, the academy was praised for its work in dealing with it as the report stated:

‘The academy did not allow Covid-19 to stop progress; they achieved a great deal through lockdown to ensure children and their families received both the education and support needed through the lockdown period. Regular communication on Twitter featured alongside high-quality streamed work and resources, and weekly phone calls.’

Rebecca Hewitt, Principal at Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane, said:

“We are proud and honoured to have been awarded Gold Status. 

“At Outwood we believe in putting children first and this goes beyond just academically. We want to make sure their mental health and wellbeing is looked after. 

“The ongoing pandemic has only increased the importance of this work. It has been a tough time for everyone and it is so important that we all look out for one another.”

The report continues to praise the academy for its work building relationships with parents, which it said ‘have improved significantly over the last 12 months due to strong leadership and a focus on improving engagement.’ As part of their efforts in this area, the academy used social media and virtual technology extensively over the last year to maintain contact with families.

Despite the challenges faced by the primary academy in 2020, the efforts by its staff were noted in the report, particularly the work done ‘through the implementation of the strategy, the development of a robust and impactful curriculum, and involved children in shaping and developing provision has meant that the culture of the school is one that fully embraces MHWB’ (Mental Health and Wellbeing).

The academy’s work with its staff was also highlighted within the report, particularly the fact that the academy has ‘a range of people trained in various aspects including Mental Health First Aid,’ before labelling the academy as ‘leaders in the field in many respects and in a variety of ways.’

Rebecca added:

“We are delighted to be receiving this award, and immensely grateful for the hard work by our brilliant staff that it recognises. 

“We want to ensure our staff are fully supported so that in turn the children we teach are supported to be good citizens who are assets to the community, as well as being supported to achieve academically.” 

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.

“We’re truly proud to have worked with Outwood Primary Academy Bell Lane in this vital work and look forward to further collaboration.”

Nationally and Internationally, more than 900 schools have signed up to take part in the mental health award.