IMPACT
“This work has transformed the lives of our students.”
Dr Dawn Casserly is headteacher at St Paul’s School for Girls, Birmingham. We are in our fourth year of working together where we have implemented and grown their whole school approach to wellbeing.
The journey began with our intervention programme (GRLPWR) targeting identified pupils. Now these approaches are part of the year 8 curriculum, provide enrichment and extra curricular opportunities and offer staff development and whole school events and strategies.
Without doubt, this has been one of the most effective strategies for improving students well being in school. As a high performing school, we have used the ideas and strategies of GRLPWR to inspire and support our girls and this contributes to their academic success.
As a headteacher Dr Casserly champions and promotes positive mental health to be integral to learning, achieving and success.
This work is not a luxury it is integral to success – you cannot learn unless you have positive wellbeing.
As the model of approach demonstrates we aim to compliment and enhance academic learning within schools remaining fully aware and sensitive to the demands of school.
Staff are realistic, pragmatic, creative and entirely flexible to meet the needs of both students and staff. The levels of cooperation and trust are phenomenal and this has engendered an extremely positive and dynamic working relationship so we can all do our very best for the children.
As young people learn to deal with pressures and stresses of modern life schools are at the forefront to respond and prevent.
This work is a beacon of light and hope in a sea of stress and anxiety. We so often feel powerless to help children experiencing issues but this work has given us both the tools and the confidence to make a positive difference to our students and their families.
Our experience and passion within the fields of education and wellbeing gives us an informed approach to effectively meet the needs of young people and those who teach, parent and support.
I cannot recommend Self School highly enough! We are looking forward to the next stage of our journey in delivering even more positive mental health stratgeies at a time when there is so little quality support available.
“As a Headteacher, it is vitally important that we can see impact and value for money. The impact reports at the end of each cycle of support make it evidentially clear that this approach makes a positive impactive impact, on most occasions 100% success rate and is extremely good value for money.”
Dr Dawn Casserly
Pupil voice
This course has helped me see myself as a completely different person. I see myself as strong, independent and motivated to do more for myself.
Year 8 pupil
This course has helped me to find myself and its really helped changed my mind set and to realise anything is possible.
Year 9 pupil
The part of the course which made the biggest difference to my thinking was learning about the brain and different mindsets. This is because I’ve realised that I can have a very negative view of myself and give up easily on things. I know how to change that now and I know I have to be positive and happy with myself before I can even start to be positive and try to uplift others.
Year 9 pupil
This course has helped me to feel more happy and make me realise I am more than I believe.I feel more motivated to achieve my life goals.
Year 8 pupil
This course has helped me to understand that I am not alone, there are people out there who felt the same as me. It helped me control my feelings and take care of myself, making me feel so special.
Year 7 SEN pupil
This course has helped me to learn that my main goal in life is to be happy not just to succeed and get a good job. It helped me to understand that in order to be successful I must also be happy with who I am and where I go in life.
Year 10 pupil
“It’s very interesting, discovering that there are ways to change who you think and feel. I feel more free and happy because of this. My advice to you is that try and spend time with yourself and that learn who you really are. Are you caring? Brave? Clever? Be yourself! Don’t compare yourself to other people as no one is perfect, it’s impossible to be perfect in a non-perfect world!”
Year 12 pupil
supporting research
Evidence shows that across the UK, mental health issues in children are increasingwhile child wellbeing is deteriorating. Young people today have to navigate a complex and ever-changing world, facing challenges and pressures in numerous aspects of their life.
90% of school leaders have reported an increase in the number of students experiencing anxiety or stress over the last five years.
Concurrently, referrals to specialist mental health services nearly doubled between 2010-11 and 2014-15. As a result, NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are overwhelmed. Currently, just one in four children with a diagnosable mental health problem gets access to the treatment and care that they need.
To reduce the burden on the NHS, there needs to be a greater focus on prevention through early identification and intervention.