Student Wellbeing

“The Mental Health Team works alongside the pastoral team, ELSA, and the school counsellor to provide high-quality support, while student Wellbeing Ambassadors promote mental health awareness by mentoring peers, delivering assemblies, and facilitating tutor time activities.”.

Inclusion Quality Mark, Centre of Excellence, 2024

Mental Health and Wellbeing

At Robert May’s School, we recognise that positive mental health and wellbeing are essential to the development of thriving and successful students. It is therefore vital to our aims as an organisation that we provide high quality mental health and wellbeing support.

Mental Health Team 2024 25

We aim to ensure that our school:

reduces the stigma attached to mental health issues and promotes positive wellbeing in all students
provides a secure environment that encourages openness and trust
can respond effectively to concerns about students’ mental health
embeds the skills students need to make good decisions about their own mental health and wellbeing
offers comprehensive pastoral and medical support that is accessible to all students
encourages students to seek support or assistance and report concerns about others
provides guidance and training to staff to support and care for students

Providing a Network of Support

In addition to supporting individual students with mental health and wellbeing concerns, Robert May’s School will commit to making sure that all students can access a cohesive network of pastoral and medical services. These include:

our pastoral team
the medical room, which is open from 8.25am to 2.55pm
appointments with ELSA
appointments with the school counsellor
Wellbeing Ambassadors, who are trained to support their peers

The School also works closely with external agencies, who students can be referred to for support during or outside of the school day.

ELSA (Secondary): ELSA Information Leaflet
Time & Space Counselling: Parent/Carers Information Leaflet | Students Information Leaflet
Canine Assisted Learning: Visit their website for more information.
You can also see some photos of visiting support dogs in our photo gallery below!
Quince Counselling: At Quince Counselling, we prioritise students mental health by combining traditional counselling with boxing training. This innovative approach provides a dynamic outlet for releasing negative energy, boosting endorphin levels, and keeping students engaged and motivated throughout their sessions. Our tailored services have achieved significant success across numerous schools in the south of England. Additionally, we offer private sessions for parents who believe their children could benefit from further support.

Mental Health Team:

Name & Role	Location	Interesting fact
Mrs Ashley Ellison AAHT - KS3 and Mental Health Lead	Office - H1	I once played basketball in an episode of the children's TV show 'The Worst Witch'.
Mrs Abigail Gray Director of Inclusion	RP Office	I have successfully completed the 3 Peak Challenge and ran a marathon!
Mrs Vicky Steele Deputy DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead)	Safeguarding Office (next to IT)	I spent 4 months in Malawi teaching English to students where I tried their local ‘delicacy’; boiled mouse!
Mr Phill Holt Student Support	Student Support	I love to ride motorbikes and like to get out on mine when the sun is shining! I also love dogs and I have a British Bulldog called Winnie
Mrs Jo Lochman Home School Link Worker & Student Support	Student Support	I've attended over 20 music festivals and love to dance! I have an Old English Sheepdog called Rudi - who is the size of a small pony!
Mrs Karen Davison ELSA	Office by H1 / opp IT Support	I was an RSPCA Inspector for 12 years and love animals - my favourite animal is the wolf.
Miss Carole Coatanroch Teacher / MH FIrst Aider	L3	I went to a tea party in Buckingham palace given by Prince Charles (he was not yet King at the time)!
Mrs Rhiane Matson Learning Coach / MH FIrst Aider	HUBL	I love music festivals and got engaged whilst watching my favourite band at Reading Festival.
Mrs Amie McDonald BACP Registered Counsellor	Next to IT Support	I was part of the 1st all female team to raft the Zanskar River in the Himalayas.
Mrs Erika Hill Learning Coach / MH FIrst Aider	HUBL	I have always been a fan of self defence and am a qualified brown belt in judo and blue in kickboxing. I also find humour is a great release for tension and anxiety and love a corny joke!
Mr Joe Quince Counsellor	-	I am a keen boxer and massive West Ham fan!

Wellbeing Ambassadors - Our Wellbeing Ambassadors are a fantastic group of students from Year 9 and 10 who have been trained to help promote awareness of how we can all support good mental health. They provide mentoring for students and deliver assemblies and tutor time activities.

Wellbeing ambassadors

Orange Blue Simple Mental Health Campaign Instagram Post

Who can I talk to?

Anti-bullying Charter

All students in Year 7 sign up to our Anti-bullying charter by decorating a paper hand and adding it to the charter which is displayed in tutor rooms.

Anti-bullying charter

The document below outlines the steps that are taken when an instance of unkind behaviour is reported:

Investigating bullying timeline

Let’s all Talk Mental Health

Let’s all Talk Mental Health Website

Let's All Talk Mental Health is an online hub dedicated to parents, caregivers, and educators providing informative, incisive & practical help to support teenagers dealing by mental health challenges.

It features live sessions with prominent UK clinical psychologists, and expert advocates and each session includes at least 30 minutes of anonymous audience Q&A so that you can get answers to your questions.

You can watch the sessions LIVE or on-demand, alongside an impressive library of recordings on many issues and conditions affecting teens and their mental health.

Quick Links: Signposting for Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

NHS Parents and Carer Support Provides useful information on how to deal with common problems and life issues among children and young people
NHS Choices Provides a wealth of information and guidance on all mental health conditions
NSPCC is the UK’s leading children’s charity. Working to prevent abuse, help rebuild children’s lives and support families
Young Minds is one of the UK's leading charities for children and young people's mental health
Place2Be is one of the UK’s leading children's mental health charities
Mind is the UK’s leading mental health charity, offering a great deal of useful information on children’s mental health
Children's Mental Health Week is an annual opportunity to encourage children, young people and adults to celebrate their uniqueness
Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services (CYPMHS; sometimes also known by its older name Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)) are funded by the NHS to provide support to children and young people with a wide range of behavioural and emotional issues
NHS Children's Mental Health provides ways to support young people with mental health problems
The Children’s Commissioner provides advice and government reports on mental health and wellbeing
NHS Hampshire CAMHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are an NHS service that aims to help young people up to the age of 18 who are finding it hard to manage their emotional and psychological health, and who are suffering with acute, chronic and severe mental health problems
NHS 111- trained mental health workers available
Hampshire Healthy Families For all things health and families in Hampshire
Hart & Rushmoor Young Carers Help and support for young carers
Healthier Together The website provides advice for parents, young people and pregnant women, and clinical resources to support healthcare professionals
Kooth is an online mental wellbeing community for young people to access free, safe and anonymous support
Hub of Hope is is the UK’s leading mental health support database
Let’s all Talk Mental Health offers informative, incisive & practical help from leading experts to support parents and carers of teens struggling with their mental health, See above section for more information and links.
Anxiety: Unwound is for people of secondary school age suffering from anxiety. You will learn what anxiety is, coping strategies, how to manage and overcome fears. They offer a warm, welcoming, safe, and confidential space, where the project is delivered in a small group setting across an 8 week course.