There is mounting evidence that schools are facing a mental health crisis in the classroom. It is believed that 1 in 6 children/young people now have a diagnosable mental health disorder and an overwhelming majority of school leaders have reported an increase in the last five years in the number of students experiencing anxiety, stress, low mood or depression.
Our pupils are facing more pressures than ever before, including pressure to do well in school, social media and cyberbullying and pressure over body image.
We can play a crucial role in developing the skills our pupils need to cope and flourish in today’s world. In addition, children with better health and wellbeing are likely to perform better academically.
As a school, we aim to deliver excellence in education and want the very best holistic outcomes for our pupils so that they can achieve their fullest potential. More specifically, as a Church school, our vision is deeply Christian and rooted in the teachings of Jesus who promised us ‘life in all its fullness’. It is our belief that an outstanding curriculum for our pupils must promote ‘life in all its fullness’. With this in mind, we aim to incorporate the NHS ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ into our provision using S.M.I.L.E.
Through our SMILE Agenda, we encourage children to recognise their responsibilities as citizens, play an active part in school life, take care of their environment, engage with and contribute to the local community so that they may develop their understanding of the mutual interdependence of the wider global community to which they belong. Our pupils are enabled to develop a positive sense of well-being and to develop spiritually so that they may leave the academy emotionally secure, eager to learn, socially adept, academically successful and with an age appropriate understanding of how to lead a safe and healthy life.

For more information about our SMILE Agenda,  including the work carried out by each year group, please look at the attachment below.