Head’s award for putting her Mind to help
LANCASHIRE Mind has praised the dedication of a Tarleton teacher for helping pupils manage the transition from primary school.
Catherine Barlow, of Tarleton Academy, won the EPSL Educational Printing Award for Supportive Teacher at the Lancashire Mind Wellbeing Challenge Celebration 2019.
The annual event is designed to raise awareness of positive mental health in schools and is sported in West Lancashire by Key Youth charity.
A team at Tarleton Academy worked on a project supported by Mrs Barlow to address three issues: improving communication between tutors and pupils, worry and anxiety, and the transition
from primary school to high school.
Ideas included an online “worry box”, managed by the head and deputy head teacher, and a buddy system run by Year 9 pupils.
The judges said: “It was clear that Mrs Barlow has dedicated her time and energy to the project, despite her own very busy role.
“It was clear she invested in the project and inspired the pupils to continue long after the official sessions finished.”
Schools from all over the county took part in the challenge and businesses sponsored the event and award categories.
Tommy McIlravey, chief executive of Lancashire Mind, said: “We were, once again, blown away by the detail and thought process behind all the entries.
“Each school took an individual approach to potential wellbeing issues in their school environments, with hugely positive effects.”
Chris Brown of EPSL Educational Printing, which produces an extensive range of educational resources and is based in Blackburn, was invited to announce the winner of the Supportive Teacher Award.
He said: “Teachers play a huge role in shaping who we become in the way they educate us but also in the way they teach us to be responsible, kind people.
“Simply put, teachers help us to become the best version of ourselves.
“We were delighted to present the award to Mrs Barlow from Tarleton Academy.”
Preston based marketing agency ICG, Motorpoint Burnley, Leyland Trucks, Frederick’s Ice Cream and web design company Fertile Frog, both from Chorley, also sponsored individual award categories.
For more information about the Wellbeing Challenge contact Amy Bond, community development coordinator at Lancashire Mind, on amybond@lancashiremind.org.uk or call 01257 231660. ● DO you have a schools story you would like to see in our pages? Please email us at: seftoncommunities@trinitymirror. com