Northumberland primary school scoops two national awards

The school was awarded The Rainbow Flag Award, a national quality assurance framework that encourages an organisational approach to developing strategies to combat LGBT+ phobic bullying.

The assessors commented on how well the school taught religion and LGBT+ education together perfectly, with the best written policies they had seen.

They were impressed that staff had celebrated their support for LGBT+ individuals and families in the wider community and shared it in school.

The work towards the Rainbow Flag contributed towards a second award for the school’s mental health and wellbeing provision.

Warkworth accomplished Silver for the pioneering School Mental Health Award, delivered by the Carnegie Centre for Excellence for Mental Health in Schools, part of Leeds Beckett University.

The award aims to strengthen pupils’ mental health by supporting schools to make positive changes to improve students’ outcomes and life chances.

Warkworth was found to have embedded the importance of mental health and wellbeing of pupils, staff and groups across the community.

Using strategies such as a wellbeing dog, working closely and supporting lots of community projects such as: Streetworx – supporting the homeless, The Grange – the local elderly people’s home, Better Health at Work Award and NUFC Foundation. All sharing the same united vision to help others.

Laura Ritson, headteacher, said: “As a school community we are very proud to have achieved both awards.

"We feel they really are a celebration of the dedication of staff, parents, governors and of course the children to working in partnership and supporting each other to strive together as one.”

Professor Damien Page, Dean of Leeds Beckett’s Carnegie School of Education, said: “Achieving this award is not just recognition of 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 Warkworth Church of England Primary in this vital work and look forward to further collaborations.”

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