St Leonard’s offers a broad range of individual and group activities that support good mental health. Please see the list below.
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact Miss Edgar who is the school’s Mental Health Champion..
Our ‘Well Being Drop-in’: has been running every Friday lunchtime in MA6 with Miss Edgar for a number of months.
Mindfulness: Miss Cunningham and Miss Ainsley continue to run the ‘Mindfulness through Christ’ in RE3 every Tuesday lunchtime. This has always been a very popular drop-in and is always open to new pupils.
Counsellor: The school has its own dedicated counsellor who will see pupils based on need. This can be really valuable when waiting lists for CAMHS are so long. Miss Edgar, as the school’s mental health lead, triages referrals with the counsellor to prioritise appointments according to need.
Counsellor Drop in: Our counsellor also runs a drop-in session on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday lunchtime, for any pupils who want to talk.
Personal Development: The school has a very rich Personal Development Programme, which includes regular updates on Mental Health, including assemblies, work with tutors and guest speakers. Last week we welcomed ‘The Prime Agency’ who spoke powerfully about cyber-bullying and the effect it can have on mental health.
Support Agencies: Miss Edgar is our lead on mental health, and works with the school’s pastoral team in making referrals to outside agencies, for example, the Emotional Resilience Team.
Chapel: The Chapel is always open at break and lunchtime for pupils who want a quiet space or an opportunity for reflection.
Pathways: Open by invitation only every break and lunchtime for pupils who need a quieter and less busy space. This is not just for SEND pupils, but for all pupils. Year 7 – every break, but only Monday and Friday lunchtimes. Year 8 – Year 13 every break and lunchtime.
Year 7 Resilience: this has been running successfully by Mrs Bell for a number of weeks; it is really helping pupils develop resilience. These sessions are by planned appointment, if you would like to know more, please do contact Mrs Bell using the form on the school website.
Thrive: This is a support group for pupils in the LGBTQ+ community and any pupils with identity concerns or confidence issues. The group meets in the Sixth Form Library Wednesday-Friday during tutor time. Please message Mrs Jackson on Teams if you would like to come to arrange an appointment time. There is also a lunchtime group on a Thursday between 12:45-1:15pm in EN2. Pupils can drop in to this as often as they would like. Mrs Jackson runs the group and is the named member of staff for pupils in the LGBTQ+ community.
Training: Staff received training on Social, Emotional and Mental Health on the INSET day on 9th January which gave valuable insight into helping pupils develop resilience throughout the school day.
Coming Soon:
Boys and Girls Mental Health: After Easter there are new clubs starting that will focus on Boys Mental Health and Girls Mental Health, these groups will be run by Mr McMullan and Miss Ainsley.
Peer Support Group: The school council are setting up a ‘Peer Support Group’ with well-being ambassadors and details of this will be shared in the coming weeks.
Communication: Miss Edgar is the school lead on Mental Health. She can be contacted using the ‘Year Group’ form on the school website. Please do get in contact should you have any individual needs, or suggestions you would like to make about the school’s provision for mental health.
