Terrific trio of model schools awarded title
Primaries honoured for well-being work
Three Renfrewshire schools excelling at boosting children’s mental health and wellbeing have all received a prestigious award.
Bishopton Primary, St Margaret’s Primary and Todholm Primary have been awarded Model School status by the PATHS Programme for putting children’s social and emotional learning at the heart of all they do.
Run by Barnardos, the PATHS programme supports schools to foster good mental health and behaviour in children, equipping them with the social skills needed to become confident adults.
It focuses on developing self- control, emotional awareness and inter-personal problem-solving skills.
All the schools were congratulated on prioritising the programme within everyday school life over the past four years and the most recent lockdowns.
Programme co-ordinators from Barnardo’s, who have been working closely with each of the schools since 2017, were delighted to present the Model Status awards.
Elaine Britton, children’s s e r vices manager at Barnardo’s said: “We are delighted to be able to commend the whole school efforts of these three primary schools in achieving the SEL Worldwide Model School Status.
“The management teams and teachers have shown such commitment to prioritising children’s emotional and social learning within their classrooms each and every day, and they are really seeing the results from doing this.
“Some of the benefits seen for children include being able to regulate their emotions and make better choices about their behaviour, improved selfesteem and relationships, as well as the whole school approach benefitting school staff and parents.”
Thirty schools across Renfrewshire are currently implementing the PATHS programme, with Education Scotland stating the initiative was playing a critical part in Renfrewshire Council’s work to close the poverty-related attainment gap.
Gillian Miller, headteacher at St Margaret’s Primary School, said: “We are delighted to receive such a strong accolade for our engagement with the PATHS programme.
“It has had a hugely positive impact on all of our pupils and has involved our families too.
“A lot of this positive impact is due to the dedication of Mrs Varendonck, our health and well- being project leader, who has been tenacious in her vision for the programme in St Margaret’s.”
Wendy McNaught , headteacher at Bishopton Primary School, added “We are extremely proud to receive this award, which recognises the hard work of staff, pupils and the wider school community to embed good PATHS practices across Bishopton Primary School.
“A big thank you also goes to Kirsty Fotheringham, our Barnardo’s coordinator, who has supported us so well on this journey.”
Ai l e e n C o c h r a n e , headteacher at Paisley’s Todholm Primary School also commended the initiative stating children appeared more confident and more able to navigate difficult situations as a result.
Steven Quinn, director of Children’s Services at Renfrewshire Council, said supporting children’s wellbeing has never been more important and continues to be a top priority for the local authority.
“It is vital that children are taught from a young age how to understand and regulate their feelings,” he said.
“We are very proud of the work of our primary schools and nurseries in implementing the programme so successfully in partnership with the PATHS coaches.
“For three of our schools to have achieved Worldwide Model School Status, is a fantastic achievement and is recognition of the excellent work being undertaken to support children to be emotionally aware and have the skills and strategies to solve problems and be resilient.”
Other schools in Renfrewshire to previously have been awarded the PATHS Model School Status include Williamsburgh, St Anthony’s and St Charles’.
For more information on the programme see www. pathseducation.co.uk