Children’s Mental Health Week: How our schools have marked this critical occasion
In today’s fast-paced world, ensuring children feel supported, heard, and empowered is more important than ever, which is why Children’s Mental Health Week deserves the utmost recognition.
This year’s theme, Know Yourself, Grow Yourself, aims to equip and empower children and young people across the UK to embrace self-awareness and explore what it means to them.
Schools play a crucial role in fostering positive mental health, and here in the North East, our schools have gone above and beyond to make a difference. Not surprisingly!
From creative workshops to well-being initiatives, our brilliant educators have embraced this week with enthusiasm, showcasing their dedication to nurturing happy, resilient students.
Here are just some of the ways our schools have supported such a magnificent week!
Insightful assemblies and workshops
Children at East Stanley school celebrated children’s mental health week with a special assembly. The children and staff came to school with their clothes on inside out, and enjoyed a lovely, relaxing day with lots of smiles.
Similarly, Belsay School in Newcastle took part in an assembly that focused on ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’. They also enjoyed various art activities and made the most of the outdoors, as that’s what the children said they enjoyed the most!
Amberley Primary hosted a fantastic day of workshops for their Year 1 & Year 2 classes with Hannah from Bigfoot Arts Education North. They explored equality, diversity and inclusion & how to be a #WorldFriendshipAmbassador. All the children were enthusiastic and thoughtful!
Over in Durham’s Browney Academy, Reception stars have been learning about the importance of looking after our minds in the busy world we live in. “Remember how special you are – there’s only one you!”
Hawthorn Primary School’s Year 3 and 4 pupils watched an online assembly as part of Children’s Mental Health Week. The children had the opportunity to discuss how they feel and the different emotions they have. They also explored how they can look after their minds.
Critical resources shared for pupils and their wider families
Ayresome Primary School shared some fantastic resources on social media with the aim of supporting parents and children to better understand their emotions.
Blaydon’s St Thomas More Catholic School arranged their Pop Up display around the theme of Children’s Mental Health week. They also shared some relevant tips for families, too.
Making children’s mental health an all-year-round priority
Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, which oversees 25 primary and five secondary schools across South Tyneside, East Durham, and Sunderland, is committed to fostering resilience and strong character through faith and pastoral care.
Each school takes a unique approach to promoting well-being and character development. At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Sunderland, they implement BREW—Belief, Rights, Environment, and Wellbeing—to support students’ personal growth.
Meanwhile, St Wilfrid’s RC College in South Shields recognizes students’ achievements in faith, excellence, and support through a special coloured tie system. Pupils must present a portfolio demonstrating how they meet the award’s criteria, encouraging perseverance and personal reflection.
These initiatives highlight the Trust’s dedication to nurturing not just academic success but also the emotional and spiritual well-being of its students, reinforcing the importance of Children’s Mental Health Week.
In January, Stokesley School and Sixth Form College in Middlesbrough partnered with the Headlight Project to host a Suicide Awareness Day, featuring Andy Airey MBE.
The event, designed by the Headlight Project, educated students on recognising signs of suicide, dispelling common myths, and directing them to available support systems. Through honest discussions, students were empowered to look out for themselves and each other.
Assistant Head Teacher Lizzie Fox emphasised the importance of addressing tough topics, highlighting that young people crave real conversations about issues affecting them.
Students engaged deeply with the session, acknowledging the reality of suicide in their own communities. Many were shocked to learn that suicide rates in the North East are higher than in London, underscoring the urgency of awareness efforts. The school believes this event has sparked life-changing conversations, and they hope its impact will continue to grow.
On Thursday (6 February), Evolve Academy, part of Consilium Academies, took part in Time to Talk Day 2025. This national initiative, led by mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, encourages open discussions about mental health to reduce stigma and foster understanding.
As part of the event, Evolve organised a mental health workshop hosted by Orli Health, bringing together students, parents, and staff. Led by experts, including NHS doctor Dr. Mark Cox and psychotherapist Karla Pretorius, the session will provide practical strategies for emotional regulation, problem-solving, and creating supportive environments.
Head Teacher Robert Bell emphasised the importance of everyday conversations in building a supportive community, while Consilium Academies CEO Michael McCarthy praised Evolve’s commitment to mental well-being. By participating in Time to Talk Day, the academy continues to promote a culture where students, staff, and families feel empowered to speak openly about their mental health—not just this week, but every day.
Let’s maintain this dedication for the rest of the year… and beyond!
By prioritising well-being alongside academic success, our schools are shaping a future where every child has the tools and support they need to thrive. And that’s all we can ask for.
Our Inclusion Conference 2025, taking place on Thursday 22 May, is your essential opportunity to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in education today: inclusion. As schools across the North East face mounting pressures from rising SEND needs, a shortage of specialist placements, and seismic changes to the Ofsted framework, this event will equip you with the tools, strategies, and inspiration to lead in this new landscape.
Evolving from our successful Healthy MindED and Challenging Behaviour conferences, the Inclusion Conference reflects a critical shift. Mainstream schools are increasingly at the forefront of delivering inclusive education, supporting children with diverse abilities, needs, and circumstances in the face of complex systemic barriers.
Learn more about the conference and book your place, here
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