St. Patrick's Grammar School
Downpatrick
028 44619722
info@stpatricks.downpatrick.ni.sch.uk
St. Patrick's Grammar School | 9 Saul Street, Downpatrick
Emotional Health and Wellbeing
In St. Patrick’s, looking after our students is our top priority; as well as ensuring excellence in safeguarding and pastoral care, we are committed to promoting wellbeing and resilience.
To ensure that we are doing all we can, as a school community to promote wellbeing and good mental health in the post-pandemic world in which we are all living, in the summer term of 2021 we decided to undertake the steps necessary to achieve the Wellbeing Award for Schools (WAS). We look forward to achieving this award early in 2023.
Wellbeing Award for Schools (WAS)
We were hououred to be awarded the Wellbeing award for Schools in March 2023.
To achieve the WAS St. Patrick’s demonstrated a clear strategy that promotes and protects emotional wellbeing and mental health, in both students and staff. It ensures that emotional wellbeing and mental health is regarded as the responsibility of all. It offers high-quality, ongoing professional development so staff feel confident responding to pupils’ needs and ensures systems and external partnerships are in place to support different types of emotional and mental health needs.
The views of students, parents and staff, regarding how the school promotes and supports mental health and wellbeing, were sought via questionnaire. The newly appointed ‘Change Team’ and the Senior Leadership Team studied the results and drew up an action plan. This led to the development of an Emotional Health and Well Being Strategy, consisting of twenty-one action points, to ensure the school offers the best possible provision in this very important area, for students, staff and the community of the Red High.
The Board of Governors and Senior Leadership Team of the school are fully committed to doing all we can to optimise wellbeing and mental health for the entire Red High Family.
We look forward to celebrating Children's Mental Health week again this year, 6 - 12 February - the theme is 'Let's connect'.
