Transforming Student and Teacher Wellbeing to Raise Attainment at Belmont Castle Academy

At Teaching Times Training, we have always believed that the key to unlocking academic potential lies in fostering emotional wellbeing. Our recent project with Belmont Castle Academy stands as a testament to how strategic interventions aimed at enhancing the mental health and emotional resilience of both students and teachers can lead to remarkable improvements in overall school performance.

Understanding the Needs: A Comprehensive Analysis

When Belmont Castle Academy approached us, they were already aware of the significant impact that emotional wellbeing has on academic achievement. However, they needed expert guidance to develop a clear, actionable strategy that would elevate their existing provisions. Our journey began with a thorough needs analysis, focusing on the unique challenges faced by their community. This was not a mere surface-level audit; it was an in-depth examination designed to uncover deep-seated issues.

By meticulously assessing the emotional climate within classrooms and staff rooms, we gained valuable insights into the behaviours exhibited by students and teachers alike. We identified critical areas where improvements could be made to foster a more supportive and nurturing environment.

The Emotional Core: Building Resilience

One of our primary goals was to strengthen the emotional core of both students and staff members. Emotional resilience is crucial for coping with stress, managing adversity, and maintaining focus on academic pursuits. Through tailored workshops and developmental tools, we equipped Belmont Castle Academy’s community with strategies to enhance their emotional intelligence.

These sessions were designed by five top national coaches including Marius Frank, Louise McGinty, Nic Ponsford, John Drew, and Bob Basley. Their expertise ensured that our approach was holistic, addressing both cognitive and behavioural aspects of wellbeing.

Making Sense of Behaviour: Insights into Actions

To create long-lasting change, it was imperative for us to delve deeper into understanding behavioural patterns. We provided Belmont Castle Academy with tools that enabled them to interpret behaviours not just as isolated incidents but as manifestations of underlying emotional states. This new perspective allowed for more empathetic responses and more effective behaviour management strategies.

By applying the latest neuroscience research on learning and behaviour, we helped staff understand how factors such as poverty or adverse social circumstances impact cognitive functions. This knowledge empowered them to create teaching environments tailored to meet the diverse needs of all learners.

Cultural Transformation: Tools for Development

Changing an institution’s culture is no small feat; it requires dedicated effort and strategic planning. At Belmont Castle Academy, we introduced developmental tools aimed at creating a trauma-informed culture driven by positive relationships. This shift was essential in establishing a safe space where students felt valued and understood.

Our programme also reviewed the school’s policies on behaviour management and inclusion practices. By re-examining these areas through a trauma-informed lens, we facilitated changes that promoted inclusivity and reduced disruptive behaviours.

Accelerating Progress with Assistive Technologies

In today’s digital age, technology plays a pivotal role in supporting diverse learners. We integrated advanced assistive technologies into Belmont Castle Academy’s teaching practices. These tools were particularly beneficial for neurodiverse students who required additional support beyond traditional methods.

The deployment of these technologies removed barriers caused by physical or cognitive conditions, allowing students to engage more effectively with their learning material. This approach not only accelerated academic progress but also boosted self-esteem and confidence among students who previously struggled.

Belmont Castle Academy's journey towards improved wellbeing
Belmont Castle Academy’s journey towards improved wellbeing.

Sustained Impact: The Road Ahead

Our collaboration with Belmont Castle Academy spanned under three months but its impact will be felt for years to come. The implementation of our comprehensive strategies has set them on a path toward sustained improvement in both academic performance and overall wellbeing.

Assistant Head Ashley F., who also serves as the Wellbeing Lead at Belmont Castle Academy, expressed his enthusiasm about the project’s outcomes:

“We are very proud to be a part of the Raising Attainment through Wellbeing project. With expert guidance from Teaching Times Training, we now have a clear vision on how we are going to make giant leaps in effective wellbeing provision as we venture forward.”

Key Benefits Realized

  • Applicability: The programme provided resources tailored to meet Ofsted and Estyn inspection focus areas.
  • Wellbeing: Enhanced emotional resilience among students and staff led to higher levels of engagement.
  • Support: Access to specialist coaches offered bespoke guidance for continuous improvement.

Teaching Times Training session
A session by Teaching Times Training focused on enhancing emotional wellbeing.

The Unique Edge: Trauma-Informed Practices

What sets this project apart is its emphasis on creating trauma-informed practices within the school environment. Understanding that an anxious or distressed mind cannot learn effectively led us to prioritize mental health as much as academic instruction. By fostering an inclusive atmosphere where every student feels safe and supported, we laid down a foundation for lifelong learning and personal growth.

The Ripple Effect: Beyond Immediate Results

The benefits of our programme extend beyond immediate improvements in test scores or classroom behaviour. By building social-emotional skills alongside academic competencies, we are helping shape well-rounded individuals who are better equipped to handle life’s challenges both inside and outside school walls.

This holistic approach ensures that children from various backgrounds—including those receiving SEN support or coming from vulnerable households—receive the attention they need without feeling marginalized or overlooked.

Driving Forward: Continuous Support & Engagement

While our initial engagement was time-bound, our relationship with Belmont Castle Academy continues through ongoing support mechanisms such as webinars targeted at specific staff groups or commissioned packages tailored towards extensive bespoke support driving change management initiatives over longer periods if needed be!

We remain committed not only improving educational outcomes but also ensuring lasting positive transformations within communities served by institutions like Belmonth Castel Acadamy

If you’re looking elevate your school’s performance through strategic interventions focused around enhancing emotional well-being then look no further than Teachin’ Times Trainin’! Let us help unlock full potential hidden within your institution today – together achieve greatness tomorrow!

For more information about how we can assist your school please visit [our website](https://www.teachingtimestraining.com) or contact us directly via phone +44 121 224 7599!

Testimonial:

BELMONT CASTLE ACADEMY Raising attainment through wellbeing course testimonial

We are very proud to be a part of the Raising Attainment through Wellbeing project and excited at how this project will transfer into tangible and meaningful support for both the children and teachers in our school. We have already been able to strategically assess and evaluate the wellbeing provisions we have currently in place and with the help from the expert guidance and resources made available to us, such as the Audit Tool, we are confident we have a clear vision on how we are going to make giant leaps in effective wellbeing provision as we venture forward. MR ASHLEY FERNON ASSISTANT HEAD AND WELLBEING LEAD BELMONT CASTLE ACADEMY, ESSEX BELMONT CASTLE ACADEMY Wellbeing Pioneer School “We are confident we have a clear vision on how we are going to make giant leaps in effective wellbeing provision as we venture forward.” Designed by five top national coaches to help schools raise attainment levels by improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of both pupils and staff The Programme offers a deep audit of the school’s approach to staff and pupil wellbeing, and coaching in changing culture and climate, behaviour policy, inclusion practice and building the core strength of pupils to nurture their resilience, self-awareness and engagement. Whole-School-award-logo-0422-final-03 Sponsored by Teaching Times logo Expert Writers and Coaches Marius Frank-BSc-Hons-PGCE-NPQH FRSA Marius Frank BSc (Hons) PGCE NPQH FRSA Louise McGinty-NPQH lead facilitator and AFA Coach-Pupil Premium-Practice Review-Coach Louise McGinty NPQH lead facilitator and AFA Coach/Pupil Premium Practice Review Coach Nic Ponsford-Co-Founder-CEO-the-Global-Equality Collective Nic Ponsford Co-Founder and CEO of the Global Equality Collective John Drew-Practitioner Trainer with Emotion Coaching UK Jon Drew Practitioner Trainer with Emotion Coaching UK Bab Basley-Anti-Bullying Quality Mark-UK- Bob Basley Anti-Bullying Quality Mark-UK About the programme This high impact programme offers a comprehensive set of complementary strategies and approaches to unlock academic achievement and accelerate progress by: Re-examining a whole school community’s relationship with “behaviour” and “behaviour management”, creating culture and practice that is trauma-informed and relationships-driven Reviewing the school culture and classroom environment to find deep level barriers that adversely affect a proportion of children Helping staff understand the cognitive and behavioural impact of poverty and adverse social circumstances Applying the latest knowledge in the neuroscience of learning to create classrooms that support neurodiverse learners through grounded cognitive and metacognitive practice Removing individual barriers to learning, caused by physical or cognitive conditions, through the advanced deployment of Assistive Technologies This programme is designed to have a positive and sustained impact on critical cohorts of children and young people that may have lost significant ground because of Covid-19 disruption, supporting improvements in culture, climate and ethos that will enable achievement to thrive: Children who are under-performing because of anxiety, stress or distress Children and Young People receiving SEN Support (as well as those with EHCPs) Children in Care or on the edge of care Children and Young People with specific vulnerabilities (self-esteem and confidence, emotional self-regulation skills, etc.) Pupil Premium Cohort New migrants or Travellers Neurodiverse learners below the threshold for statutory SEN support WHY DO WE NEED THIS? Simply put, an anxious, frightened or angry mind simply will not learn. This Programme helps teaching professionals to understand what they can do to create an inclusive learning environment that supports and nurtures children at the highest possible levels of emotional wellbeing. It builds social and emotional resilience, by meeting the needs of neurodiverse learners, thereby accelerating progress and securing better personal outcomes. Key benefits Applicability Signposting to an array of governmental departments and agencies, third-sector organisations and businesses, with materials kept up-to-date and constantly reviewed. Designed exclusively to meet the demands of Ofsted and Estyn key inspection focus areas (in particular, creating and culture and climate that will reduce the number of fixed term and permanent exclusions, and create high performing inclusive learning communities). Wellbeing Helping professionals to understand what they can do to create a learning environment that supports and nurtures the highest possible levels of emotional wellbeing, and thus progress and achievement. Raising the levels of emotional wellbeing amongst staff as well children, helping to retain experienced professionals and support new entrants to the profession in equal measure. Support It’s available as a self-study package, but with the opportunities to commission specialist coaches to deliver targeted and bespoke webinars to groups of staff, lead on-site INSET and evaluation activity, or commissioned packages of more extensive bespoke support to drive change management.

Ashley F