It is World Mental Health Day and we are delighted to announce that The Grove’s ongoing commitment to the mental health of our pupils and staff has been recognised and we have been awarded the Optimus Education Wellbeing Award for Schools.

We are the only independent school in the UK to achieve this accolade.

The Award has been developed in partnership with the National Children’s Bureau with a focus on ensuring effective practice and provision is in place within schools to promote the emotional wellbeing and mental health of both staff and pupils.  It centres on the long-term culture of a school, embedding an ethos where mental health is regarded as the responsibility of all.

At The Grove, we have always been known for our unique approach to education, with a focus on nurturing the individual and helping each pupil grow into the very best version of themselves that they can be. Our well established Learning Support and Pastoral Teams are always on hand to offer provision and interventions that match the needs of students and staff and pupils can also seek advice and support from each other at our ever-popular, pupil-run, drop-in centre “The Hub”.

A more recent development that demonstrates Woodhouse Grove’s commitment to promoting mental health as a part of school life is the appointment of a Head of Wellbeing, Rebecca Vernon.

Rebecca Vernon, Head of Wellbeing:

It is vital that the whole school community is engaged to support emotional health. As well as having systems in place to support all different types of emotional and mental health needs, we encourage pupils to take responsibility for each other. We have also recently established an online resource, the Student Support Alphabet, offering information and advice on a huge amount of topics, which is accessible to students 24 hours a day.

James Lockwood, Headmaster:

We are tremendously proud to have achieved the Wellbeing Award for Schools –  a testament to our staff and pupils and their commitment to our school ethos regarding the importance of mental health. Woodhouse Grove is not just a school, we are a community – and, as in any community, we take responsibility for each other’s wellbeing. It is wonderful that this has been acknowledged.

I am an individual, yet I am part of something incredible. I am Grovian.