A Middlesbrough-based secondary school has been awarded Gold Status by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health Award.

This award, led by Carnegie School of Education and Minds Ahead CIC, ensures schools are using evidence-based approaches, aligned to the latest professional guidelines surrounding mental health.

The assessment report found that the progress made at ̨��swag Academy Acklam ‘used the framework and content of the Award to very good effect to further develop their mental health and wellbeing strategies, structures, and practices.’

During its assessment, the Hall Drive-based academy was found to have provided good support for its staff, students and their families during the pandemic. 

Mark Gray, Principal at ̨��swag Academy Acklam, said:

“Being awarded Gold Status is a phenomenal achievement and really recognises the hard work of our students and staff.

“At ̨��swag we are dedicated to putting students first and this goes beyond just academically. We want to ensure our students are supported and are responsible citizens when they leave us, as well as achieving good qualifications. 

“To this aim, we want to make sure their mental health and wellbeing is looked after. We take immense pride in receiving this award and look forward to continuing to support our staff and students as best we can.”

Within the assessment report is glowing praise of the academy’s support system and the high-quality training provided to staff:

“Leaders are committed to the development and integration of MHAS throughout the Trust overall and throughout the academy, and both role model and drive expectations from the highest level. A combination of high-quality training, a well-developed strategy and MHWB (Mental Health and Wellbeing) being woven into action planning mean that staff are now more adept at recognising signs and signals as to MHWB and as such, are more confident and capable of having open, warm conversations with pupils.”

The academy was also commended for its ‘robust and well-developed’ approach to supporting students with their mental health. This involved not only working with the student and their family, but also other relevant external agencies, including CAMHS, MIND and support for young carers, to ensure students are fully supported.

The award was established in 2017 by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools – part of Leeds Beckett University – and social enterprise Minds Ahead.

The Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools aims to strengthen pupils’ mental health by supporting schools to make a positive change at all levels of the UK's education system, improving students’ outcomes and life chances.