Mental Health Matters
Find out how we promote positive mental health amongst staff, pupils and families at THS
We appreciate the ever growing demands on our young people and, as such, nurturing our students and promoting positive mental health is very important to us.
Between the staff who offer support to our students, our wonderful grounds in which to learn and explore and the additional provision we have in place, we think that our pupils are in a good position to maintain positive mental health.
Our Mental Health Offering
At Teesside High School, we have enlisted the support of a school councillor, Miss Hardy, with an average referral time of just two weeks.
We encourage our students and parents to talk to us if they have any concerns about mental health matters, and then any referrals are made through school staff to Miss Hardy.
Following an initial assessment, students receive six counselling sessions at the cost of the school. Further sessions can then be booked as a private arrangement.
George – our wellbeing dog!
We welcomed our very own wellbeing dog George to the THS family in 2021, after the turbulent couple of years following the Covid pandemic. He helped with the return to school and any worries and wobbles our pupils may have faced along the way.
George is a much loved member of our school community, popular with students and staff alike. He is always around with boundless enthusiasm for any of our pupils who may be feeling a little under the weather or out of sorts with themselves. He loves visiting lessons, too, and his favourite place to be is in Forest School.
Forest School
Spending time in the outdoors and being at one with nature is a well known stress reliever and a perfect way to promote your mental health.
At Teesside High School, we are very lucky to have our own on-site Forest School. Children are able to access this part of the site regularly and Miss Hopkins, our Forest School Leader, provides a wonderful woodland programme for all pupils to enjoy.
Forest School and nature-based activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh award form an integral part of our co-curricular programme. Improving quality of life through better health, fitness and movement is the most basic of expectation from this provision.
Co-Curricular Opportunities
At Teesside High School, there is extensive co-curricular provision for all of our students, from Nursery to Sixth Form.
Trying new activities, being involved in team pursuits and having a break away from the academic focus of school life can have a very positive impact on promoting positive mental health.
Our co-curricular programme is specifically designed to support positive mental wellbeing by building time for mindfulness, sport, creative and crafts and social activities which engages our pupils with peers in both their school and local community.
Our staff are passionate about supporting our pupils
Mrs Kennedy is a qualified Mental Health First Aider, and is based in the Prep School.
Mrs Connolly is our Pastoral Support Officer based within the Senior School.
Miss Stephens has the overall responsibility for pastoral care at Teesside High and is a member of the Senior Leadership Team. Miss Stephens is also our Designated Safeguarding Lead to ensure that all of our pupils feel safe and have someone to go to in times of need.
Miss Hardy is our school councillor and a Registered Member of the BACP (British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists).
All THS staff are happy to help pupils if they feel they have concerns around mental health and wellbeing. Promoting and fostering positive mental health is important to us all.
We are proud to provide parents with an outstanding resource to support your child’s Mental Health Matters, created by Mrs Kennedy. The site covers our work to promote pupil wellbeing at THS, an introduction to our pupil Wellbeing Champions and advice, guidance, activities and reading recommendations around mental health for each Key Stage of the school.
