A Wakefield-based primary academy has been awarded Silver 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 Kirkhamgate has been able to use the ‘framework and content of the Award to very good effect to develop their mental health and well-being strategies, structures and practices from a strong starting point.’

During the assessment, the assessors found that ‘Mental health is embedded across the curriculum and pupils feel happy and safe’ at the Brandy Carr Road-based academy. The support given to children at the academy was also praised, as well as a number of initiatives the academy has put in place to support mental health and wellbeing.

Emma Abbott, Principal at Outwood Primary Academy Kirkhamgate, said:

“We are thrilled to have been awarded Silver Status. 

“At Outwood we believe in putting children first and this goes beyond just academically. We want all our children to reach their potential, and to do this we know we have to support them to grow beyond the classroom.

“To this aim, we want to make sure their mental health and wellbeing is looked after. We take immense pride in receiving this award and the hard work by the staff that it recognises.”

Within the assessment report is glowing praise of the academy’s work in the area:

“Parents and carers are actively welcomed. The school understands the benefits that come from building positive relationships both in terms of the learning of the child but also in terms of supporting families at times of crisis. This is particularly true of relationships during the COVID-19 crisis. School staff have recently undertaken bereavement training to better support families and children on return to school.”

The academy was also praised for having a dedicated mental wellbeing team which is available to the staff as well as the children. The report praised the academy for ‘ensuring no out-of-hours communication’ to staff, and for ‘providing a range of well-being activities’ which ensure it ‘is able to care for its staff.’