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About Resilient Schools Programme

Why focus on resilience in schools?

The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people can affect them for the rest of their lives. Supporting their mental health at this early stage can help them cope better with life, whatever it throws at them. 

The growing number of children and young people experiencing poor mental health is one of the greatest challenges facing our schools.  One in ten young people have some form of diagnosable mental health condition and we know that half of these are established before the age of fourteen. Further-more there has been a rapid increase in referrals to Barnet’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Resilience in schools is seen when pupils, parents/carers and staff have a greater ability to “bounce back’’ when faced with difficulties so that they can achieve positive outcomes.

What is the Barnet Resilient Schools Programme?

The Resilient Schools Programme takes a whole-school approach to promote and build resilience in schools and address mental health concerns early on. The programme aims to:

  • help staff, parents and pupils to recognise their own mental wellbeing needs and be confident to access information to support themselves and others
  • de-stigmatise mental health in schools
  • intervene early to prevent escalation of mental health problems.

What does being a Resilient School involve?

Schools are audited based on 8 areas:

  • Support and training for staff to build skills and capacity in own resilience
  • Support networks that enable pupils to develop social relationships
  • Teaching and learning that develops resilient learners
  • A curriculum that develops life skills including social and emotional skills
  • Specific help for vulnerable pupils
  • Effective partnerships with parents
  • Clear vision and values that are understood and consistently communicated
  • Digital Resilience

Following a successful pilot, we have now welcomed over 60 schools to the programme with more schools planning to join. We have regular meetings and updates so schools can network and learn from the experience of colleagues. We aim to keep you up to date with current training opportunities and new resources.

For further information about the Resilient Schools Programme please contact Jayne.Abbott@barnet.gov.uk or call 07849 095 164