Cottingham Primary School, near Corby, is working towards the highly coveted gold award through the work it has done to improve pupils’ mental health. This initiative comes on the heels of the school’s commitment to joining the Healthy Schools movement. Having conquered a successful silver award last year, the school has set an ambitious target. This follows closely its recent achievement of being named a bronze award winner in February 2024. The school hopes to achieve the gold level by this summer.
The Year Six pupils at Cottingham Primary are actively engaged in various fundraising efforts to support their mental health initiatives. They’ve been thinking and planning big around some core themes like giving, connecting, being active, taking notice, especially learning. Reuben, one of the students, and unprompted, has set out to spearhead his own fundraising crusade. His effort is a wonderful demonstration of the collaborative spirit and community engagement that we instill in our school program.
“For ‘giving’, we’ve been doing quite a lot of fundraisers. We did a little raffle and raised £300 for Cransley Hospice.” – Reuben
Ashley Scott, executive head teacher of Cottingham Primary, says it’s important to be aware of students’ different needs and behaviours. That combination, she argues, is key to cultivating their success. Like all educators, he knows that mental health is foundational to providing a safe and supportive learning environment.
“As a school we have to adapt and manage children’s needs, whether they’re four years old with anxieties, or a Year Six child that has worries about social media.” – Ashley Scott
Carolynn Southcombe, the school administrator, echoes this sentiment, stating that good mental health is vital for effective learning at Cottingham Primary. She reiterates that addressing mental survival first is going to be important in creating that joyful, impactful educational experience.
“Looking after mental health and wellbeing is paramount for children for their education, wellbeing and happiness. If a child isn’t happy, they aren’t going to learn.” – Carolynn Southcombe
The school’s efforts through the Healthy Schools program help foster that positive environment. This inspiring environment supports students in growing emotionally as well as academically. Cottingham Primary is busy with fundraising activities. On top of this, they’re centering important mental health themes, leading the way for other schools across the metro area to follow suit.
