Corby school awarded first Healthy Schools Silver Award in North Northamptonshire

08 November 2024

Cottingham Church of England (CofE) Primary School has become the first North Northamptonshire school to gain the Healthy Schools Silver Award.

After completing their Bronze Award in February, Cottingham CofE Primary School soon set its sights on going for Gold and swiftly achieved Silver.

To achieve the Healthy Schools Silver Award, the school completed a self-led mental health project focused on their Year 5 children, who moved to Year 6 at the start of the school year in September. 

The focus was on the Five Ways to Wellbeing, Giving, Connecting, Being Active, Taking Notice and Learning, with sessions around the five themes, including a food bank donation (Giving), a family afternoon (Connecting) and a yoga session (Being Active).

Since 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve sadly noticed that pupils are struggling with their mental health and well-being a lot more. As a school, we must advocate for our pupils’ mental health and well-being and set them up for a bright and successful future.
Year 6 can be stressful and worrying for children due to their SATS and the imminent move up to secondary school, potentially away from their friends.
Because of this, we mainly wanted to support these pupils with their mental health and well-being and prepare them for these significant events and changes.Carolynn Southcombe, Cottingham CofE Primary School

As part of the process, pupils completed a weekly reflection log workbook, looking at how they had achieved the Five Ways to Wellbeing that week and why it was important. 

I am delighted that Cottingham CE Primary School has become the first North Northamptonshire school to complete our Silver Healthy Schools Award.
This stage of the awards should take six to 12 months to complete, so to do so in the shortest time possible is a credit to both the pupils who took part and the staff who supported them.
I hope these youngsters will benefit from the skills and knowledge in well-being they have learned, which I am sure will help take them through the challenges of Year 6 and on into secondary school life.
I would encourage any school not yet signed up to participate in the Healthy Schools Awards so their pupils can benefit.Councillor Gill Mercer, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing

Currently, 51 schools are working towards their Bronze Healthy Schools Award, and 19 are on the path to their Silver. Schools and Colleges in North Northamptonshire can learn more by emailing the Healthy Schools Team.  

Our youngest residents are the future of North Northamptonshire. I want to congratulate all those involved at Cottingham CofE Primary, pupils and staff.
Well done on your Silver Healthy Schools Award, and all the best in your progress towards the Gold Healthy Schools Award.Jason Smithers, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council