West Exe School, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, has been marking Children’s Mental Health Week this week.  Children’s Mental Health Week is a mental health awareness week that empowers, equips and gives a voice to all children and young people in the UK and runs this year from the 5th until the 11th of February.  Children's Mental Health Week was launched in 2015 and each year, hundreds of schools, children, parents and carers take part.  Now in its 10th year, the theme for 2024 is ‘My Voice Matters’.

Students at West Exe are supported with their mental health in a manner of ways;  the school has Student Wellbeing Ambassadors who have been trained by the NHS mental health support team and they provide ideas for events, advocate for positive student mental health and listen to students who share concerns with them.

The school also offers an elective programme on mindfulness, where coping skills are developed with students through psychoeducation, psychoeducation reduces stigma around mental health and improves overall wellbeing. 

As part of the mindfulness elective, West Exe students will be visiting local primary schools to share their healthy coping strategies with Year 6s through games, such as bingo.  The secondary students will also speak to Year 6 students about the importance of speaking openly about their feelings and emotions. 

 One student commenting on the mindfulness elective said:

 “I think it’s great that I can discuss how I’m feeling openly in a safe place where there is no judgement and I have learnt a lot about the reasons behind mental health conditions and how I can help myself in stressful situations.”

A debate on mindfulness in schools was actually held in Westminster Hall in Parliament this week, with Charlotte Nichols MP who led the debate stating that:

“Mindfulness programmes are becoming increasingly popular in schools and educational settings worldwide, with a growing quantitative evidence base emerging from research studies. Mindfulness in schools is about introducing children to skills as early as possible to support their lifelong wellbeing. It has benefits for educators, too, including stress regulation and reduction, increased self-compassion and teaching efficacy.”

The school is committed to promoting good mental health and is going to continue investing in this area, they have recently appointed a new Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead, Leanne York and she’ll be working with the Student Ambassadors to support and prioritise ideas that support good mental health and wellbeing across the community. 

Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

“At West Exe School, we recognise that good mental wellbeing can support students through day-to-day challenges, in relating to others, making healthy choices and developing into resilient young adults.  That is why we help students to create their own mental health toolbox during their school life, through learning and utilising healthy coping strategies to manage life challenges.” 

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust said:

“It’s been great to shine a light on the work our schools do on mental health this Children’s Mental Health Week.  I am so proud of West Exe for the pioneering actions they have taken to support the whole child when it comes to looking after the mental and emotional wellbeing of their students and of their student ambassadors for the role they play in supporting other children in primary schools in their communities.”

Pupils from six local primary schools have taken part in a tag rugby festival at West Exe School, part of the Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust, thanks to the school’s Primary Sports Offer. 

The primary schools taking advantage of West Exe’s Primary Sports Offer are Alphington, Exwick Heights, Ide, Bowhill, St Gabriel’s and St Thomas.  Each school is invited to participate in six festivals across the school year, these involve a wide range of sports from cross country and multi skills to tag rugby.

Each school also takes part in a Year 6 Competitive sporting league in football and netball, with the Cowick Cats Netball Club delivering a free coaching session for all primary students involved.  All events are assisted by West Exe Sports Leaders who help plan, organise, and deliver each event.

On Monday, 29 January West Exe held their last week of the Year 6 Netball league.  They had teams from Alphington, Bowhill, Exwick Heights, St Gabriel’s and St Thomas, each school played each other over the course of 4 weeks and the league consisted of Year 6 students playing in a seven a side format.

Aside from the clear physical and mental benefits of taking part in sports, it is hoped that allowing the primary children to experience the surroundings and atmosphere of a secondary school will make the transition when leaving primary school easier. 

The Primary Sports Offer means that there is an opportunity for each primary student to visit West Exe for a sporting activity in each year of the primary education from Year 1-6, meaning they develop strong links and familiarity to the school, which is especially helpful for those joining them for their secondary education journey.

On Tuesday, 30 January, West Exe held a Gymnastics Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshop at Bowhill.  Teachers from Bowhill and St Thomas took part in the session which was delivered by Lianne Johnson who is a gym specialist with extensive knowledge and expertise in gymnastics.  A West Exe student assisted with the session to very ably demonstrate the skills and supports needed.

Julie Fossey, Headteacher at West Exe School said:

“I am so proud of our Primary Sports Offer here at West Exe, not only does it encourage children to try out new sports and form a positive relationship with exercise, it also helps them become comfortable in a secondary school environment."  

“Forging strong links with the other schools and teachers in our local community is very important to me and it’s brilliant to be able to offer them training sessions from some of our expert sports leaders.”

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Multi-Academy Trust said:

“I am delighted that West Exe provides such a strong Primary Sports Offer, part of the Ted Wragg Trust mission is to make sure we benefit and strengthen our local communities, and this is an excellent example of that.”