Ardingly recently implemented a five year Mental Health Strategy, which has led to a number of new initiatives across the College to support students’ wellbeing.
The strategy was informed by data from our termly Wellbeing Surveys of all Senior School students, as well as Tutor feedback, findings from other pupil and staff surveys and feedback from our regular School Council meetings.
“Pupil wellbeing and positive mental health are prioritised and valued and there is extensive support available for all pupils, including an extensive counselling provision.”
ISI Report, June 2024
Mental health related initiatives
Mental Health Lead
Our Mental Health Lead, Chris MacInnis, is qualified to the highest level in safeguarding and trained to support students’ mental health. He has College-wide oversight of all our mental health related initiatives, working in close collaboration with our pastoral staff, the team in our Health & Wellbeing Centre and our Learning Support department. He also organises a regular series of expert visiting speakers, who provide guidance and advice to parents on mental health and wellbeing issues.
Mental Health Ambassadors
There are Mental Health Ambassadors in every House, who all receive mental health first aid training, and act as the liaison between our Mental Heath Lead and the other students in their House. The Ambassadors disseminate information throughout their Houses, help organise initiatives and activities such as Mental Health Week and can also signpost their peers to access any support they might need.
Peer Mentors
Many of our Sixth Form students are trained as Peer Mentors and are then matched with a ‘buddy’ in Years 7, 8 or 9. Where possible we match mentors with younger pupils who share a common interest (such as a particular sport or hobby) and, for boarders, it often works well to match them with students in the same House. These relationships are often very successful at building confidence and self-esteem in younger pupils, while providing peer advice on resolving any friendship and other issues.
Wellbeing Surveys
In the Senior School, we carry out termly Wellbeing surveys, which – among other questions – ask students to rate whether they feel useful, valued, confident and cheerful either “all”, “often” or “some” of the time. Crucially, these surveys also allow our pastoral team to double-check that the handful of pupils with low scores are already on our pastoral radar and receiving support. We also use data from these surveys to consider how we can improve our existing mental health and wellbeing provision across the College.
Press Pause
One of the findings from a recent student Wellbeing survey was that students felt that the school day was too busy, with no time to themselves or opportunities to relax and decompress. As a result, we not only moved some of our clubs/academic clinics out of lunchtime – to ensure that as many students as possible now have the full 80 minute lunch break – but we also introduced a new initiative, called Press Pause. This is when a whole year group is taken off timetable for a lesson, as a surprise, and instead encouraged to get outside in the fresh air in our beautiful grounds, cloud-watch, fly kites, practise mindfulness or play outdoor games.
Kit Kat and Chat
As part of our ongoing programme of raising awareness of Children’s Mental Health needs, we run regular and popular “Kit Kat and Chat” sessions. These are organised by staff in our Health & Wellbeing Centre and are designed to create a space for students to connect beyond the classroom, where they can pop into the café for a kit kat and to check-in with pastoral staff.
Our Health & Wellbeing Centre
