Wellbeing in church schools

Published on: 1 September 2017

Working in our church schools is a real privilege. It is so rewarding to see children develop, acquire new skills and interests and make great progress during their formative years.

In our church schools especially, it is pleasing to see the children growing in the spiritual, moral, social and cultural aspects of their development. They are also great places for staff development with many teachers and support staff expanding their skills and expertise. Church schools can be a fun and rewarding experience for all who teach, support and learn.

In recent years, there are increasing pressures on all schools to continually improve standards, meet higher targets and be prepared for the Ofsted inspections as well as the church school inspections. In addition, schools face audits and monitoring visits from a variety of people looking at school performance on a regular basis. This can all combine to lead to potential increasing levels of stress amongst both staff and children.

In the Diocese of Norwich, as well as pastoral support from many of the clergy, every Church of England school, whether it is Voluntary Controlled, Voluntary Aided or an Academy, has an allocated Diocesan School Support Officer (DSSO). They are all retired headteachers with many years’ experience of working in schools and are there to provide advice, help, training and pastoral support. The role of the headteacher is acknowledged to be potentially very stressful, with pressures from many external and internal sources. DSSOs are a listening ear to support headteachers and other staff through those challenging times as well as being there to acknowledge and celebrate all the achievements of the school.

Many of our church schools also have programmes in place to support the well-being of the children. At St Andrews Primary Academy, North Pickenham, they are justifiably proud of being a nurturing school.

Headteacher Emily Gore-Rowe writes:

“The nurture group is available for all the children who need time away from their usual class, with time to think, communicate and reflect, before returning to their class.

The ‘Thrive’ approach helps children to develop their skills to deal with the social and emotional issues they may encounter. The school has a number of ‘peaceful places’ where children can collect an olive branch from the classroom and take specified time out to reflect on what is upsetting them.

They are encouraged to draw or write about their feelings. Pattern work is used to clear heads before returning to class and a restorative approach to settling disputes amongst the children is used successfully.

All the children have made prayer beads, with each bead representing one of the schools’ core Christian values. They are encouraged to hold these and reflect on them when feeling upset. Children can also contribute prayers to be shared in collective worship.”

These strategies not only provide ways to support the well-being of our children in schools but they are vital life-long skills to enable them to thrive in an increasingly stressful and challenging world.


This article is from...

Articles in this issue...

Rest – Enjoy – Pray

As I write this I have recently returned from a General Synod meeting in York. We go to York each year in early July, meeting and staying on York University campus; it is a delightful setting and usually the atmosphere is noticeably more relaxed and friendly than when we meet in the business-like atmosphere of Church House in London.

More

The battle on the front line of mental health service funding

I am often asked from where my interest in mental health stems, and partly it is born out of personal experience. I had postnatal depression and, although not severe in comparison to others, it was enough to make me aware.

More

Championing Mental Health at Norwich Cathedral

Andy Bryant explores the way the Cathedral is helping those struggling with their mental health.

More

Mental health first aid

As a volunteer with North Breckland Youth for Christ I work with a variety of young people in school lunch clubs, youth cafés and other events. Over the years I’ve seen young people struggling with their emotions and mental wellbeing for reasons such as bullying, bereavement, and family breakdown.

More

I would stop at nothing to end everything

Ten per cent of children and young people (ages 5-16 years) have a clinically diagnosable mental problem yet 70 per cent of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age*. Norfolk teenager Hannah Green share her story of how her faith has helped.

More

Priest in the night

Dialling 999 here gets you in touch with our police, ambulance or fire services. There is a very different approach in Sweden. Phone their national emergency number 112 at night-time and you are also given the option to speak to a priest on duty from the Church of Sweden. Canon pastor of the cathedral of Stockholm, Ulf Lindgren, has spent many nights on the helpline.

More

Churches can provide mental health friendly communities

Emilie Ruddick, mental health professional in North Norfolk explains how churches are stepping up to support their local communities.

More

Recovering friendly church – join the conversation

The Revd Patrick Jordan extends an invitation to join a new network in the diocese discovering how we can practically approach the issue of mental health illness and wellbeing in our local communities.

More

Hearing Voices – sharing experiences of struggles with mental health

Hearing Voices is a forum organised between Norwich cathedral with the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust and the Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust where people can come and share their struggles with mental health.

More

After the fire came a gentle whisper

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, forgive our foolish ways; these words open a hymn that begins softly but builds to the tremendous crescendo of the final verse where we confront earthquake, wind and fire only to find God in the still small voice of calm.

More

Keep up to date

Subscribe to our eNews for a snapshot of news, events and resources, usually emailed once a fortnight

Signup to newsletter