Hednesford school clinches prestigious wellbeing award
A school has won a prestigious award for the exceptional treatment of students’ wellbeing.
Kingsmead School, in Hednesford, which is part of John Taylor Multi Academy Trust, claimed the Wellbeing Award for Schools, supported by the National Children’s Bureau and Optimus Education.
Maria Mincher, head of school, said: “Kingsmead strongly believe that wellbeing and mental health should be a priority to enable students to achieve their full potential.
“These values, along with our core value of mindfulness, sit at the heart of our school improvement.”
Children benefit from calm interaction with animals, including sheep and chickens, snakes, lizards and Rosa – the school dog – to support their wellbeing.
The school has employed a counsellor who works directly with students and staff to improve their mental health and wellbeing and promotes outdoor learning is promoted with a summer classroom and forest school, wild meadow and dipping pond.
There are a number of quiet, reflective reading areas around the school and several innovation rooms including a room of curiosities, a languages village, chroma-key room and the exotic animal management centre.
Diane Pritchard, wellbeing coordinator, added: “We wanted to promote student wellbeing in all learning experiences by providing an environment and curriculum that supports students to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to manage their own health and wellbeing and to support that of others.”
In the report, the award assessor, said: “Kingsmead has seen significant changes over the last three years and reinvented itself as a school that places emotional wellbeing and mental health at the core of its activities.
“Its stated ambition is to be a beacon for change within the community and it is clear that the school’s commitment to supporting the wellbeing of its students, staff and families has been a key driver in achieving this.”
