Jan 18, 2023 | Ackworth School
Ackworth School is proud to be working in conjunction with the Anti-Bullying Alliance. Every November, Ackworth School partakes in Anti-Bullying week which brings awareness to the ABA by running activities schools can get involved in, such as Odd Sock Day. Here at Ackworth School, we continuously support these campaigns physically and over our social media platforms. ABA’s theme for November 2022 was “Reach Out” and there was a variety of resources which assisted our themed assemblies and activities throughout the week.
The ABA also run a range of events throughout the year for new and existing members.
If you would like to read more about the amazing work that Anti-Bullying Alliance does in schools and for young people, you can find many helpful resources over on their website.
www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk
Jan 16, 2023 | Ackworth School, Sport
We celebrate the achievements of our pupils within and outside of school. Over the weekend of the 15th January, Jack (fifth form) jumped at the Northern Indoor Championships at Sheffield Institute of Sport, taking home a gold medal! He achieved a clearance of 1.90m. Congratulations Jack!
Jan 13, 2023 | Ackworth School
Congratulations are due to our Table Tennis Academy. During the weekend of 7th January 2023 it was the Senior National qualification tournament where both Rebecca and Felix played. Felix went into the tournament ranked 27 and finished the tournament in 3rd place! His performance’s were outstanding and the team were both shocked yet excited for him to finish this high in a senior tournament.
Equally as impressive, Rebecca was due to finish 9th place and also finished 4th in the women. Rebecca also beat the number 1 women ranked in the tournament. She played outstanding all competition.
Coach, Sam Mabey said, “For me as a coach I was so pleased for them and to have 2 players in the semi final at a tournament like this is not something you see a lot. This also means that both of them qualify for the Senior National Championships in March.”
Sam Mabey, Coach for Ackworth School Table Tennis Academy
Table Tennis
Jan 12, 2023 | Ackworth School
Logo designed by one of our pupils.
Ackworth School is a place where students should feel safe, accepted, and respected for who they are. Last year, the school launched a Pride group, aimed at the LGBTQ+ community, but of course welcome for anyone to attend.
Run by Oliver McCarthy-Bell, and with sixth form mentors, the group explores issues relating to the LGBTQ+ community, and so far have covered topics such as dealing with homophobia, coming out to family, exploring attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people in religion, and learning about some important events in LGBTQ+ history, such as the Stonewall Riots.
The group currently has both 2nd and 3rd formers regular attending, but the group is open to any students, both day students and borders. The group meets on a Tuesday break time, in the Music Centre Hall.
Resources: for advice visit www.stonewall.org.uk
Jan 9, 2023 | Ackworth School, Junior School, Old Scholar, Senior School, Sixth Form
The Head of Ackworth School, Anton Maree, has announced that he will be retiring from his role at the end of the Spring Term in April 2024.
Anton Maree said: “After 10 years at the school it is the right time to move on and give someone else the chance to set the tone and determine the direction. Being the Head of the school has been an honour and a privilege. I know that change can create uncertainty but Ackworth has survived through unforeseeable and testing times. I look forward to the rest of my time at this wonderful school”.
David Bunney, Clerk to the School Committee, said “ Anton has done so much to further the school and to help the local community. He leaves a strong legacy for his successor to build on. The whole school community wish him well when retirement eventually comes in April next year”.
The School Committee have now started their search for a new Head.
Oct 10, 2022 | Ackworth School
Life can be challenging, but how are we equipping our young generation that is growing up overwhelmed by physical and mental ill-health with the tools to face these challenges? In all aspects of life, we are what we consume and children are inspired by actions, not only words.
Here are 11 tips for looking after our Mental Health which you can start today:
- Get into nature, even for a short walk.
- Learn to manage your emotions.
- Become aware of your inner monologue and speak kindly to yourself.
- Talk to someone you trust or journal down your thoughts and feelings.
- Being kind to others.
- Get more sleep.
- Move your body.
- Eat healthy food and drink more water.
- Do not use drugs or alcohol to cope with difficult feelings.
- Be curious about life and never stop learning.
- Plan things to look forward to.
So, what do we do here at Ackworth School to support our children and help them retain a happy healthy minds?
Staff at Ackworth School, not only teachers, are very good at recognising when children are struggling. We have a very good pastoral system in which we have Tutors in every year group including pastoral and academic leads. Occasionally we have visits from Quaker Friends, who speak, listen, and is here for whomever wishes to speak with them.
We also trust the fact that there are pupils at the school who are very good at noticing if their friends are in a troubled position. An example of this is the support network surrounding our Ukrainian boarders at the moment. We do encourage and require parents to inform us of any ongoing issues, but not everything can be recognised right away. Additionally, we have a professional service available for the children and staff. This is an opportunity to sit and speak about what’s on their minds and how they can navigate their emotion.
A most recent edition to the mental health caring strategy is our peer mentoring, having up to 20 individuals from our Sixth Form come forward and volunteer to be mentors. Part of this will be training for those pupils, but also further training for staff. This is due to begin after half term. We encourage discussions within our PSHE and RSE classes. In our Art subjects children are taught how to express themselves into producing beautiful pieces of work, sometimes exploring hard hitting subjects, and Physical Education around the school always promotes fitness and wellbeing. Our school council are the voice of the pupils, and we work on empowering these children, filling them with the confidence to take on the outside world.
Reflections/Fragments of Self artwork by Harriett Metcalfe
As a school we are actively encouraging children to become more aware of looking after their mental health. Building relationships and trust is everything and as a community we are working daily to improve that. This is reflected in our Quaker culture and ethos. We encourage all individuals in our community to be open, transparent, honest, and approachable. During Quaker meeting, this time can be used to reflect. Taking the opportunity to turn our thoughts inward and ask – am I getting this right? The community feel is a large part of what we teach and live by here. The sense of being a part of something bigger gives us all a sense a purpose. In our boarding house the children are a family and look out for one another.
Out of everything, we encourage everyone to be approachable because you never know when that one individual might reach out to you for support. If you are concerned about a child or a friend, please reach out to Nancy Newlands on Nancy.Newlands@ackworthschool.com
Thank you to the Head, Anton Maree and Senior Deputy Head (Pastoral & Academic) Nancy Newlands for their assistance with this article.
Resources:
Five Steps to Mental Wellbeing – NHS
MIND Charity
