In recent years, St. Peter's School has been a positive example for mental health provision in education, not only meeting the increasing demand for mental health support among pupils but leading the charge in destigmatising mental health and embedding wellbeing at the core of our educational approach. We are proud to have established a robust and multifaceted mental health framework that reaches across all year groups and serves as a model for how schools can cultivate resilient, thriving communities by prioritising mental wellness.
Investment over recent years
At St. Peter’s, our journey for enhanced provision began in 2018 when the school’s pastoral leadership, spearheaded by Mrs Clarke, Miss Mounter, and Mr Ferguson, recognised the growing need for enhanced mental health services and facilities. With support from the Governors and school leadership team, we invested in better mental health provisions that would benefit pupils, staff, and our community.
This transformation grew to include the creation of the new Health and Mental Health Centre, a significant investment in the wellbeing of pupils. The centre’s opening in October 2024 in a prominent location on campus at Burton Stone Cottage signalled the importance that St Peter’s places on ensuring that every pupil has access to the support they need to thrive emotionally and mentally. The centre is a safe, welcoming space where pupils can access resources, as well as drop-in or regular counselling sessions.
(New Wellbeing Hub Facilities)
Breaking the Stigma
The key to our success in our mental health provision has been the ability to create an environment where pupils feel safe to seek help without fear of judgement. The school's mental health team has worked hard to break down the stigma surrounding it, ensuring our community recognises that mental health exists on a spectrum, and that everyone can benefit from learning coping strategies to manage stress and thrive in a busy and demanding environment.
Evidence of this success is clear in the increased number of pupils accessing our services. Since the introduction of new mental health hubs, the school has seen a significant increase in both the number of pupils using the service and the frequency of their visits. In fact, the number of drop-in sessions has risen by 35% year-on-year, with 132 pupils attending 712 sessions, and 45 pupils receiving regular counselling in 2025.
This success has been mirrored by a shift in pupil attitudes towards mental health. The culture of openness, particularly through the pupil-run mental health teams, has led to a more supportive and empathetic school community. In a pupil-led initiative, a team surveyed their peers and discovered a need for a peer mentoring programme for pupils transitioning into senior school. The implementation of this programme has provided invaluable support to Year 8 pupils entering Year 9, easing their anxieties and helping them navigate the challenges of moving to a new environment.
Proactive Measures Across All Ages
Throughout the school, pupils learn how to talk about mental health and manage their own wellbeing through our PSHE curriculum, which starts with our Reception pupils.
Our youngest pupils are taught the “Zones of Regulation” framework, which helps them to understand and articulate their emotions from an early age and is used throughout the school day in classrooms. This framework avoids naming any emotion as positive or negative and instead helps them feel each emotion and use a toolkit for managing the effects of it, moving themselves back into the “green zone” in which they are ready for learning.
If any pupils from this part of the school need access to extra support, a referral would come through the class teacher or parent, where they would be assessed by our ELSA-trained staff. The assessment happens through the strengths and difficulties questionnaire, which helps the staff to identify the areas they would like to work on with the pupil. They would then notify the parents that they would like to start regular sessions and would require their consent before organising scheduled sessions in the Wellbeing Treehouse.
The Wellbeing Treehouse is situated in the Reception playground and is a calm, welcoming space that can be used for various needs. As well as being available for regular counselling sessions, it can provide a quiet space for staff to take pupils for some time to regulate. Inside the treehouse, there are a number of resources, such as mindfulness activities, books, and a lending library of resources for parents, for example, in the event of a family bereavement or the death of a pet.
When pupils move up to Year 4, our PSHE curriculum continues with regular weekly lessons that are adjusted to the appropriate age of the child. This could cover themes of mindfulness, managing anxiety, puberty, or self-esteem and confidence as the pupils progress through the school.
They also have access to their own Mental Wellbeing Space, which is a room connected to the library. It provides a warm and inviting space for regular sessions. There is always a trained counsellor present during the school day, who can be available to talk to pupils for sessions.
To access regular counselling sessions, staff or parents can refer a pupil, or older pupils can refer themselves. Once a referral comes into the Hub, they are then triaged, and a counsellor is allocated who will work with the pupil in the 8-13 Wellbeing Space that they are comfortable with.
All pupils are given assurance that the sessions are completely confidential, other than if a safeguarding concern is raised. If that situation occurs, the pupil will be told by the counsellor that they will have to report the disclosure to the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) in order to protect the children involved. Parents do have to agree that the sessions can take place, but nothing from the session will be shared with the parents.
When pupils reach the senior years at St Peter’s, alongside their PSHE and Lessons for Life curriculum, they have access to the Mental Health Hub, which is situated near the Chapel, within the Health and Mental Health Centre. As in younger year groups, pupils can be referred or can refer themselves using QR codes on posters around school.
Pupils in Senior School also have access to a drop-in service alongside the referral service. To access a drop-in session, pupils can sign in to the Mental Health Hub as they arrive, which automatically alerts the school office, so we account for their absence from lessons, and we know they are safe. This data is then used for monitoring the use of the Hub, allowing us to track the use of the space and offer extra resources should a pupil be accessing the hub frequently.
Inside the Mental Health Hub, we have trained mental health counsellors available for sessions, and a calm and welcoming waiting space for pupils to sit and wait for their session during busy times or recalibrate if they are feeling upset and stressed.
(Zones of Regulation Station)
A Holistic Approach to Wellbeing
St. Peter’s has also expanded its support system to include resources for staff. Recognising that the wellbeing of the entire school community is interconnected, the school offers free counselling sessions to staff and their families through an online provider. This holistic approach ensures that everyone in the St. Peter’s family is equipped with the tools they need to manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.
The impact of these initiatives across the school has been profound. Teachers have reported fewer disruptions in class as pupils are better equipped to manage their emotions, and there is a noticeable increase in pupils' willingness to engage in discussions about mental health. More pupils are standing up in assemblies across the school to talk about their own mental health challenges, further reinforcing the school’s commitment to breaking down barriers to mental wellness.
A Future Vision of Wellbeing
Looking forward, St. Peter’s is committed to continuing our work in mental health. The school plans to further enhance preventative measures by expanding the availability of ELSA-trained teaching assistants in the Junior School and providing additional layers of support before pupils need to access counselling. Planned further work and training sessions with parents will ensure that support is continued at home.
The school also plans to launch more peer group sessions, where older pupils can discuss topics such as friendships, relationships, and exam stress. This peer-to-peer support is integral to fostering a culture where mental health is understood, supported, and valued by all.
Voices of the St. Peter's Community
The success of these initiatives is reflected in the feedback from both pupils and parents. One former pupil shared, “I know that I wouldn’t have survived Sixth Form or my A-Levels if it wasn’t for you – Thank you!” Another current pupil remarked, “Just having a space like the Wellbeing Hub to come to and feel safe when things become too much is amazing.” Parents, too, have expressed their gratitude, with one parent commenting, “We as parents are so grateful for the support you have given our daughter; we have noticed a positive change in her as a result – thank you.”
The growing recognition of St. Peter’s commitment to mental health is also evident in the admissions process. More families are choosing St. Peter’s not just for its academic excellence but because they recognise the school’s investment in supporting pupils' mental and emotional wellbeing, which is especially important for boarders who are away from home for prolonged periods.
The journey towards mental health excellence at St. Peter’s has been one of careful planning, tireless effort, and unwavering commitment. From the introduction of early interventions like the Zones of Regulation to the creation of the state-of-the-art Health and Mental Health Centre, the school has created an environment where pupils can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The ongoing investment in mental health services, coupled with a culture that prioritises wellbeing, ensures that St. Peter’s is not just preparing pupils for academic success, but for a busy and fulfilling life beyond school.
(Sixth Form pupils speak in Chapel for Men's Mental Health Awareness)
