The AcSEED Newsletter
September 2015

Editorial

Welcome to the first edition of The AcSEED Newsletter. It marks the start of a new academic year, and each term we will highlight news and information specifically related to emotional wellbeing and mental health support in schools and colleges. This will include updates on The AcSEED Initiative as well as wider news of relevance to wellbeing in schools. If you would like to submit an article, letter, or notification of a future event in the newsletter please see the contact details below.

2014-2015 was a landmark year for AcSEED. Horndean Technology College in Hampshire became the first organisation to be accredited with The AcSEED Award, followed closely by Applemore College (see articles below). The award recognises schools and colleges which have made a substantial effort to implement high quality emotional wellbeing and mental health support for their students. The 2015-2016 academic year looks as though it will be equally exciting with more than 30 schools across 7 UK counties having now engaged with the AcSEED assessment process including secondary, primary, and even nursery year groups.

Whilst the awarding of AcSEED accreditation provides recognition of achievement, it is even more satisfying to see the number of schools and colleges that are now using the AcSEED assessment criteria as a framework for defining improvement targets in their school development plans. The implementation and deployment of high quality wellbeing support lies at the heart of AcSEED’s ambition, with accreditation providing public recognition for this commitment.

The AcSEED Initiative promotes a whole school approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health support in schools, and this requires expertise and active involvement from multiple constituencies including school governors, headteachers and their leadership teams, teachers and other school staff, students, parents, health organisations, and relevant charities. AcSEED aims to connect these communities effectively to enable the best outcomes for young people, and we would like to thank the many individuals and organisations that have already donated time and support to this cause.

The AcSEED Leadership Team

AcSEED News

Horndean Technology College Awarded First AcSEED Accreditation

Congratulations to Horndean Technology College who became the first organisation to be accredited with The AcSEED Award for excellence in wellbeing support at a ceremony to mark the occasion on 13th April 2015. Charlotte Gatherer, founder of The AcSEED Initiative, said “AcSEED promotes adoption of best practices in supporting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of young people, and provides recognition for educational organisations that satisfy the AcSEED criteria for wellbeing support. The AcSEED assessment team were impressed by the comprehensive and innovative wellbeing support provided by Horndean Technology College, and are therefore delighted to announce that Horndean has been accredited with The AcSEED Award.”

The ceremony was also attended by George Hollingbery, MP for Meon Valley, who said “It’s really important that Horndean Technology College has won this award and I very much hope that other schools and organisations across the whole country now look seriously into following their lead. Sadly, the need for young people to get help, advice and support around the issues of emotional wellbeing and mental health seems to be growing every year, just as the pressure of being a young person grows every year. So the AcSEED Initiative is particularly welcome because it's founded by young people who have had experience of the issues. Good luck to the college in its trailblazing work and good luck to AcSEED in its tremendously important endeavours.”

In accepting the award, and paying tribute to Mrs Skeet, College Counsellor and all staff who are committed to the emotional wellbeing of HTC students, headteacher Mrs Summerfield said “We are delighted that our work to support students’ emotional well-being has been recognised by the AcSEED accreditation. Whilst schooling is about learning and being successful academically, for us at HTC it is important that our young people leave at the end of year 11 with the ability to be emotionally resilient and independent able to face the challenges of the future. The AcSEED accreditation exemplifies at HTC the importance that we equally place on emotional well-being and development.”

The AcSEED criteria defines a framework for developing a whole school approach to wellbeing support, whilst AcSEED accreditation provides a simple measure for parents and young people to identify schools and colleges that have committed to high quality provisions for emotional wellbeing and mental health support.

Read the full story here.

Applemore Technology College Receives AcSEED Accreditation

Congratulations to Applemore Technology College who were presented with The AcSEED Award at a ceremony on Monday 6th July 2015. Headteacher Mr Roland Marsh received the award from AcSEED founder Charlotte Gatherer, and paid tribute to Mrs Heidi Kavanagh and other student support staff, and to the young people who act as Peer Mentors within the college.

Read the full story here.

AcSEED Assessment Process Simplified

Based on feedback from pilot schools and colleges, The AcSEED Initiative has introduced a simplified assessment process for AcSEED accreditation. The review will continue to be based on a school self- assessment, but only limited items of evidence will be requested by the AcSEED review team (where previously evidence was required for most of the AcSEED criteria). This sampling of evidence significantly reduces the amount of effort required by schools and colleges, whilst publication of the school’s wellbeing commitment on the AcSEED website will add a self-governing element to the process.

For more information please email The AcSEED Initiative at: contact@acseed.org

New AcSEED Logo

The AcSEED Initiative has a new contemporary logo. Created for AcSEED by Pulse8 Graphic Design Ltd, the logo will be used on all AcSEED websites and communication materials. AcSEED logos are also licensed for use by AcSEED accredited schools and colleges (an example can be seen here).

Related News …

Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Taskforce

The ‘Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Taskforce’ was set up by the Department of Health to consider ways to improve the quality and provision of mental health services to young people. In publishing its final report the taskforce highlighted the need to encourage schools to continue to develop whole school approaches to promoting mental health and wellbeing. AcSEED founder Charlotte Gatherer, who was a member of the taskforce, said “This taskforce has clearly recognised the importance of emotional wellbeing and mental health support in schools, and The AcSEED Initiative will continue to support this vision through our primary role of promoting and recognising the adoption of best practices”.

The taskforce report can be viewed here.

Pupil Mental Health Top of Concerns for School Leaders

In a survey conducted by The Key of more than 1000 school leaders, over two-thirds identified pupils’ mental health as a key concern. The results were consistent across all school types, stages, and regions. Within the report an associate headteacher in London says “The biggest issue is accessing what we need to support the children and young people in our care. We may identify a problem, but getting the expertise, advice or actual intervention is a problem.” The AcSEED wellbeing criteria emphasises the need for schools to have strong links to relevant health organisation and charities to access support as and when it is needed.

AcSEED Founder Receives Award

Congratulations to AcSEED founder Charlotte Gatherer who received an award from the (then) Deputy Prime Minister for her services to Mental Health, and in particular for setting up The AcSEED Initiative.

Read the full story here.

To submit an article or letter for publication in The AcSEED Newsletter, or to request further information on the content of this newsletter or The AcSEED Initiative, please email us at: contact@acseed.org