Outwood Academy Ormesby, a secondary school based in Middlesbrough, 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 the Tothill Avenue-based academy had ‘used the framework and content of the Award to very good effect to develop their mental health and wellbeing strategies, structures, and practices’ and was ‘excelling’ in aspects of mental wellbeing support.

The report noted how staff at Outwood Academy Ormesby work hard to ‘identify new initiatives coming through and the leadership are open to trying new things and recognise that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution in this area.’

Tom Urwin, Principal at Outwood Academy Ormesby, said:

“It is a brilliant achievement for the academy to be awarded Silver Status as it recognises the hard work of our outstanding students and staff.

“At 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. 

“We look forward to continuing to support our staff and students as best we can to help them fulfil their potential.”

Within the assessment report is glowing praise of the academy’s work in forging strong relationships between staff and students, it stated:

“Pupils are willing to open up about their struggles and staff are willing to embrace the needs of the pupils often going above and beyond what is  expected. The school is continually adapting to the needs of the pupils, for example, the nurture provision set up for a small group of year 7 pupils who struggled with transition this year has led to a much more positive outcome for those pupils.”

The academy’s work to build positive relationships with parents and local community was also praised, as was its use of social media in keeping the academy community up to date with the latest developments during the lockdowns over the last 18 months.

Tom added:

“We 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.” 

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.