LVS Ascot’s Wellbeing Hub makes the Finals of the National Tes Independent School Awards 2021
LVS Ascot, an independent day and boarding school in Berkshire, has made the national finals of the prestigious Tes Independent School Awards. The Awards are organised by Tes, which supports over 25,000 schools in 100 countries worldwide, and recognise the most outstanding institutions in the independent education sector.
LVS Ascot is a finalist in the Wellbeing Initiative of the Year category for its newly created Wellbeing Hub. The shortlist was announced on Friday (26 March 2021). The initiative provides a young person-centred and holistic approach to students’ mental health promotion and support. The centre provides all students with someone to turn to, and deals with issues such as bereavement and homelife stress, conditions including depression and anxiety, as well as guidance and practical strategies to help manage and reduce emotional barriers to learning.
The opening of the Hub follows the success of the school’s Health and Wellbeing Centre, which provides triage throughout the school for all medical issues and concerns and gives children aged 4-18 the opportunity to learn about first aid.
LVS Ascot’s principal, Christine Cunniffe, added; “The wellbeing of our students is paramount to enabling them to fulfil their potential throughout life. We aim to give every student the confidence they need and inspire them to exceed their expectations. Mental health is an area of growing national concern and we believe that the foundations are laid in childhood, so our aim is to support young people when they need it most.
“Our students visited the Wellbeing Hub on 900 occasions in its first year of opening, for a wide range of reasons ranging from depression and anxiety to friendship issues and LGBTQ+ support. The launch of the centre came just before the pandemic, and I’m particularly proud that we were able to support 29 students through the stress of covid-related family bereavements and illnesses.”
Tes editor, Jon Severs, said: “After a difficult year for all schools, it is an honour to celebrate the Tes Independent School awards, not only to celebrate excellent practice but to ensure that practice is shared far and wide.
“We received an unparalleled number of entries this year, which is testament to the great work all have done during the pandemic. The schools that have been shortlisted should be proud – it’s a remarkable achievement.”
Due to the pandemic, for the very first time, Tes Independent School Awards winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony on Friday 30 April 2021.
