Tes Schools Awards: Ballyclare school wins Pupil Mental Health Initiative of the Year accolade

Members of the Hillmount Avenue school’s leadership team attended the Tes Awards 2024 event in London on Friday, June 21, where the school picked up the Pupil Mental Health Initiative of the Year title.

The prestigious awards, now in the 16th year and dubbed the ‘Oscars of education’, saw shortlisted teachers and schools from across the United Kingdom come together for a glittering gala at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane.

Detailing the services provided at the school, Vice Principal and Head of Pastoral Care, Fiona Norris, explained: “Through innovative practices, such as our collaboration with a vast number of external agencies, the school has accessed a wide range of therapies, including music and canine therapy, and built sensory rooms and gardens to meet various children's needs.

"Support extends to parents as well, with Fairview offering a coffee hub as a safe space for parents and the ‘Parent Talk’ programme, encouraging open discussions about mental health at home to better support their children.

"As well as creating wholesome initiatives like ‘Hearts from Home’, where parents and pupils would each receive a crocheted little heart and the pupil can carry this heart with them to feel safe and go to their heart when they might feel anxious or miss their parents.

"To be recognised for our efforts in addressing the mental health of our pupils is a tremendous honour, and testament to the importance our whole school community has placed upon it.”

Welcoming the award and praising the teaching staff, Principal Neil McAllister stated: “It was a huge honour to lead my pastoral team across for the prestigious Tes awards; even getting shortlisted was quite an achievement.

"To win the award has just capped off a wonderful year in Fairview Primary School. We have the most incredible staff in Fairview who always go the extra mile for our pupils.

"Our pastoral work was highlighted as 'bespoke' in our most recent ETI inspection and the team, led by my Vice Principal Mrs Norris, constantly find new and effective ways to support pupils and families who need it."

Judged by a panel of experts from long-serving head teachers to heads of educational organisations, the judges selected winners for 23 categories.

Judge of the awards and Director General of BESA Caroline Wright said: “Fairview Primary School have used a range of different ways to address mental health and have built sensory rooms to teach children how to regulate themselves and their emotions.

"Their focus on promoting positive mental health has not only helped the children but also the school community, especially parents, educating and reassuring them on how to help their children’s mental health."

Rod Williams, CEO of Tes added: “The Tes Schools Awards are a fantastic celebration of the education community, and it’s an honour and a privilege to be able to recognise the impact of the teachers and schools that lives on through the students and their futures that their work inspires. Congratulations to all the winning and shortlisted schools.”