Mental Health and Wellbeing
“Students in the Sixth Form engage in a wide-ranging programme of enrichment activities. Leaders check participation rates carefully to ensure that students experience a wealth of opportunities, including learning sign language, how to budget and about healthy relationships.”
OFSTED 2023
Mental health and self-care have never been so important. Here at Tarporley, there are numerous initiatives we run that encourage Sixth Form students to reflect on their own mental health and also learn strategies to help them deal with life’s many challenges – be that anxiety, depression or any of the other many conditions that can affect our young people. We are a community and supporting each other is very important to us, as these parental comments prove:
“Our daughter speaks so fondly and has a heartfelt pride in her Sixth Form family. In this very important year, we know she will continue to benefit from all the knowledge, care and encouragement you give her and her lovely friends.” Parent, 2022.
“I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all the Sixth Form staff for the dedication and commitment you have shown to our son over the past few years. He has grown into a wonderful young man and I know you have all left a marked impression on him and have helped to shape him into the young man he has become. Thank you so very much!!” Parent, 2021
SUPPORT FROM MEMBERS OF STAFF
Mrs Chapman and Mrs Henry, our Sixth Form Pastoral Managers, job share across all 5 days in the Sixth Form and support our students with all aspects of student life. This can range from helping students to decide their A level subjects, to running drop-ins and weekly sessions to support with more complex issues.
SUPPORT FROM THE GEORGE HEATH FOUNDATION
"The George Heath Foundation was established in 2016 after George's death, at the age of just 20.
George had been a student at Tarporley High School and Sixth Form studying Media Studies, Photography, and English. In real terms, his days at Tarporley Sixth Form were the happiest of his life. After Sixth Form, George went on to uni...completing the 1st year of a BA in Journalism...but by the Christmas of the 2nd year, he knew that the course wasn't right for him...and so he came home ready to switch to a course in Graphic Design the following September...those few months were tough. Fortunately, we were able to help him through those difficult days, but we KNOW that there will be others who need help to speed up their recovery and prevent a mental health issue from getting worse.
The George Heath Foundation has many objectives including "advancing the education of persons under the age of 25 by development their mental, physical and moral capabilities" and assisting in "the treatment and care of persons suffering from mental or physical illness or injury". These aims sound very formal - but by helping fund Mental Health First Aid Courses for Sixth Form Students we hope to be able to give them the confidence to spot the signs of mental health issues, and allow them to stop a mental health issue from deepening and worsening. We were pleased to donate to Tarporley and our donation funded the CAMHS Mental Health First Aid training detailed below. We are keen to continue to contribute and back other initiatives to secure young people’s support networks, information sources and means of help.”
Gaynor Heath
George’s mum and founder of the George Heath Foundation
You can read more about The George Heath Foundation via our website www.thegeorgeheathfoundation.org.uk or our Facebook Page www.facebook.com/TheGeorgeHeathFoundation
STARTING WELL ONLINE CHAT FOR STUDENTS
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA ENGLAND)
Our students applied for one of the coveted places on the Mental Health First Aid England which was delivered virtually over two days by CAMHS training. Our Mental Health Leads shortlisted the 16 successful students who then were tasked with completing independent learning ahead of the training sessions which covered sensitive topics such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, psychosis and suicide. Feedback from students was very positive –
"I found the training incredibly useful in helping me to gain awareness on how to support people with their mental health. It is something that I will be able to use now, and in the future, to help others and myself. Thank you for giving me for the opportunity to complete the course." Year 12 student, 2019.
We are looking for ways in which our trained students can assist others within our school community.
TUTOR TIME ACTIVITIES AND FUNDRAISING
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Young Minds – Hello Yellow – we support this fantastic charity each year, wearing yellow on their designated day to raise funds.
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Movember – supporting male physical and mental health.
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Dove Self Esteem Fund – building positivity regarding body issues and challenging societal pressures to look and behave in a certain way.
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Chester Pride – supporting THE BOX PROJECT and JUST ASK - an advisory service for young people wanting guidance reading gender issues, mental health issues and sexual health.