Helping others is important to us
This week we meet the new QEGS sixth form heads of wellbeing, Jess Allcock and Mia Kelly
OUR names are Mia and Jess and we have recently been appointed as the Heads of Well-being at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School.
This is a topic we feel passionate about as we are both empathetic people who like to put the needs of others before our own.
We got the role through applications that showed we were the best suited to consider the well-being of pupils in our school and had the depth of knowledge required, specifically regarding mental well-being.
This is something we want to spread awareness of by running clubs and holding assemblies for various year groups on how to develop the best physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Mia says:
I am most interested in A-level Psychology as I feel it allows me to understand others in society which allows me to recognise the struggles of others through the knowledge of mental illnesses such as anxiety.
This means I can be better equipped in my role as I can help those who need it.
Individually, I would like to spread awareness on the effects that social media is having on the younger generation’s mental health, which I will do by utilising clubs that we both plan on forming.
Here, information will be provided on how students can become more aware of their use of screens and technology, which has been shown to have negative correlations on mental health. Jess said: My favourite subject at A level is English Literature, which although it may sound unrelated, helps me to understand different groups of people.
I am also studying Supporting Teaching and learning with the hope of becoming a teacher because helping others is my priority.
I would like to break down the stigma surrounding wellbeing, specifically mental health within school.
By this, I mean to I’d like to see more people talking about mental health issues such as depression.
We plan to do this through assemblies so that students feel like they can reach out for support.
In terms of the importance of well-being to our school, we feel it’s essential that students feel both positive and supported by each other, teachers and us for a healthy school environment.
We want the mental wellbeing of students to be just as important as the qualifications they receive so they are equipped to deal with challenges they may face in the future.
Together as heads of wellbeing, we are both passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding boys and their mental health as we are aware that statistics show boys find it harder to open up when they are struggling.
As well as clubs that we will already help to run at QEGS, such as the LGBTQ+ club, we plan to make new clubs specifically aimed at students who suffer from anxiety or are experiencing hard times.
In addition to this, together we will create happiness letters and positive posters which will be put up around both main site and Sixth Form.
Due to the current situation that we are in, we both feel it is very important to keep focused on the mental wellbeing of the students at QEGS.
This is especially relevant for next year’s exam groups who have had to learn course content remotely.
Many are wondering what will happen to their exams next year and as a result, this can be quite a stressful time.
Although the current Year 11s have had a lot of support from the Sixth Form regarding moving up into Year 12, we recognise this not the same as the real ‘move-up’ experience as we ourselves received and as such many people are probably feeling a lot more nervous and possibly a lot more stressed than they would normally feel.
Due to this we want to reassure people that their move up to QEGS will be made as smooth as possible for them and that if they have any issues, don’t hesitate to contact one of us, a member of the Sixth Form Council, or a member of staff. Remember we are all happy to help!
We are both excited for what this role entails and to start preparing for year 13!