The new Emotional Mental Wellbeing in Education Schools Mark guides educational establishments through a self-review process of their mental health and emotional wellbeing offer to identify strengths and areas for improvement. The Mark has replaced the previous Healthy Young Minds in Herts Kitemark award and is free for schools to complete.
As schools find themselves increasingly responding to the mental health difficulties of staff, parents, and pupils, the Schools Mark considers the eight themes set out in the Department for Education’s guide to promoting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing:
- Leadership and management
- Ethos and environment
- Curriculum, teaching and learning
- Student voice
- Staff development, health and wellbeing
- Identifying need and monitoring impact
- Working with parents, carers, and families
- Targeted support and appropriate referrals
By undertaking the process, schools are encouraged to reflect on their practices and interventions while asking, ‘are we doing enough?’ and ‘what improvements can be made?’, alongside recognising their unique position within the wider Children and Young People’s Mental Health System.
Each of the eight themes highlights a focus on several specific criteria. Schools will identify themselves as working in a Developing, Effective, or Advanced capacity, and use the potential improvements that can be made in each area to inform a whole school Mental Health Action Plan.
Following the activity of a self-review document, schools will be visited by an assessor. During the visit, the assessor will explore evidence and impact which supports the school’s own findings. This information will contribute to an overall score, and rating awarded to school.
The Schools Mark is designed to be used as a continuous improvement development tool, meaning that it is not a case of pass or fail. After two years, schools have the option to repeat the process, reflecting on the improvement journey they have undergone and updating their whole school Mental Health Action Plan to align with new ambitions going forward.
The current documentation is suitable for mainstream primary and secondary settings. Further information can be viewed in the below guidance document. Schools looking to start the process should contact: to receive further information and required documentation.
All schools who have previously completed the Healthy Young Minds in Herts Kitemark Award will still remain with the accreditation for up to two years and further information on next steps will be shared with these schools.
Schools who have completed the new Schools Mark are:
