BSAK BECOMES THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL TO RECEIVE THE SILVER STANDARD  MENTAL HEALTH AWARD, FROM THE CARNEGIE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS.

The British School AL Khubairat (BSAK), an Abu Dhabi school has become the first international school to be awarded the Silver standard for its outstanding mental health and wellbeing provision.

BSAK provides a wide range of activities to boost the wellbeing of students and staff and has used the framework to develop their whole School strategies, policies and practices.  The School has introduced a counselling service, embedded a range of preventative measures and activities, is developing a wellbeing group for staff and working with students’ parents to develop their wellbeing practice.  They are also proactive in the community, networking with other schools to share good practice through the Abu Dhabi School Counselling Network.

Working collaboratively with Maudsley Child and Adolescent International is also a priority to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people with mental health problems.
 
In recognition of their efforts, BSAK has achieved the Silver standard, School Mental Health Award from the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools.

Mark Leppard MBE said: “I am extremely proud of this achievement as it highlights our focus on this important issue. At BSAK we take a holistic approach to our students in order to get the very best outcomes for them and this includes their well-being and mental health. When the School embarked on this journey we recognised that we needed a whole team approach and it is through this, coordinated and driven by our School Counsellor, Priya Mitchell, that we have been recognised.

As well as addressing the topic in an open environment we have introduced a School Governor specifically tasked to oversee this area from a governance perspective so that it is discussed at the very top of our organisation. We have also started initiatives such as ‘lunch and talk’, where staff are encouraged to take a break and chat with colleagues about anything but work. The feedback from this was extremely positive”.

The award was established in 2017 by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools – part of Leeds Beckett University – and social enterprise Minds Ahead.

The Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools aims to strengthen students’ mental health by supporting schools to make a positive change at all levels of the UK's education system, improving students’ outcomes and life chances.

Professor Damien Page, Dean of Leeds Beckett’s Carnegie School of Education, said: “Achieving this award is not just recognition of a whole-school approach to mental health, it’s a recognition of the School’s commitment to improving the life chances of children.  We’re truly proud to have worked with The British School Al Khubairat in this vital work and look forward to further collaboration.”

Nationally, more than 500 schools have signed up to take part in the mental health award.

Dean Johnstone, founder and CEO of Minds Ahead said: “This award shines a light on the excellent work schools are doing to promote mental health for their community of children and adults. “It is thrilling and humbling to learn about British School Al Khubairat and the many other schools engaged in the quality award process. I’d like to offer my congratulations on this deserved recognition.”