Prioritising Student Wellbeing: A Focus on Mental Health During Half Term 3 ( Published: 12/02/2025)

At TEMA, we firmly believe that academic success goes hand-in-hand with student wellbeing.

This half term, we placed a significant emphasis on supporting our students’ mental health and providing them with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the challenges of adolescence and beyond. Our Wednesday Personal Development hours were specifically designed to address key topics relevant to each year group, fostering open conversations and promoting positive mental wellbeing.

A Developmental Approach to Mental Health Education

Our Personal Development curriculum is carefully structured to address age-appropriate mental health and wellbeing topics. This half term, students explored the following:

Year 7: Students learned about the physical and emotional changes associated with puberty, including how it affects both boys and girls, menstrual hygiene, and the importance of overall hygiene during this time. This foundational knowledge helps students understand and manage these changes, reducing anxiety and promoting self-care
Year 8: The focus shifted to navigating social pressures and understanding the risks associated with alcohol, recreational drugs, and smoking. Students learned about the legal implications of drug use and the importance of making informed choices for their health and wellbeing
Year 9: Students explored common mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, stress, eating disorders, and self-harm. Crucially, they learned about the vital link between physical and mental wellbeing, encouraging them to prioritise both
Year 10: The curriculum delved deeper into mental health conditions, covering topics such as mental health stigma, panic disorder, everyday stress management, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, and social anxiety disorder. This education aims to equip students with the knowledge to recognise these challenges in themselves and others and to seek appropriate support
Year 11: Recognising the pressures of this crucial year, the focus was on preparing students for life after school. Sessions covered college applications, apprenticeships, job searching, CV writing, university applications, and the benefits of volunteering and work experience, all contributing to reducing stress and promoting a sense of direction

AWARE Status and Collaboration with ‘Mind of the Student’

We were also delighted to welcome “Mind of the Student” to our school. Their engaging assemblies for all year groups highlighted the importance of recognising anxiety and depression, provided practical techniques for managing these conditions, and empowered students to have open conversations about mental health with friends, family, and professionals. We are incredibly proud to have been awarded AWARE status by ‘Mind of the Student’, recognising our commitment to improving mental health understanding and support for all our pupils. This partnership is a testament to our dedication to creating a supportive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive. We look forward to continuing our work in promoting student wellbeing and fostering a school community that prioritises mental health.