Halcyon Education

Anna Bateman interviews 3 secondary school students to hear from their perspective, what life was like during lockdown and how they are coping now. Troy, Alara and Zarbakht speak candidly about their experiences, many of which we can probably all relate to, how they felt, what impact it had on their mental and physical wellbeing, relationships and studies.

Anthony Beckett is a senior assistant headteacher and mental wellbeing and safeguarding lead at a secondary school in the West Midlands, the same school that our guest students in Episode 1 of this season’s podcasts attend. In this episode, Anna delves deeper into the successful wellbeing culture that Anthony has created, one that has succeeded in building mental resilience across the whole school...

National Online Safety – the good, the bad and the ugly by Anna Bateman

Young carers – how to spot them and provide the right support. An interview with Emma Francis from Birmingham Mental Health Care and Support Service

Dan Gardiner and Marcus Isaac of F2D In the Community talk to Anna Bateman about their work in schools and the launch of their new book, Entrepreneurship: A Young Persons Guide. Dan and Marcus say that if you believe, you can achieve. Find out more about their valuable work connecting with youngsters in ways that help them realise their true potential which in turn boosts self esteem and confidenc...

John Rees of PSHE Solutions speaks to Anna Bateman about his vision for schools and how teaching methods for this subject and PSHE can help shape our youngsters.

Anna Bateman interviews 3 year 11 students to hear their views on exam stress and what they feel schools and teachers could do to help them prepare for their all important exams and alleviate stress levels when under exam pressure. Listen now to hear them share their worries and insights.

In this episode, behaviour specialist Adele Bates reflects on the kaleidoscope of pupil’s lockdown experiences facing school leaders, and the challenge of meeting the individual needs of all. There are lots of suggestions in this interview that can guide us through what will undoubtedly be a challenging time, along with links to helpful resources. Refer to our website for a useful handout to try i...

Pupils from Ainthorpe Primary, along with a member of their senior leadership team, tell us about their experience of using a Lottery funded programme called Headstart to promote a whole school approach to mental wellbeing. We also hear from Gail Teasdale, Headstart Programme Manager in Hull about the strategy behind this initiative to move schools away from simple tick box exercises when putting...

This interview with students of Lincroft Secondary School demonstrates the success of a student wellbeing team in action and the innovative measures they have put in place to support students in their school. The students specifically identified stigma as a barrier to their peers seeking help and support when needed, and explained how they created an open culture of discussion around mental health...

In this interview, Nina talks specifically about the challenges that pupils have faced in recent months during lockdown, and in the coming months as they prepare to return to what will be a noticeably different school environment. She talks of a ‘slinky’ approach to the new challenges ahead, to keep children moving forward in a positive way. Find out what this means and how this can help you shape...

And so to help you even further with your PSHE planning, Episode 3 features an interview with Damian Hewitt from Jigsaw PSHE. He shares his extensive experience, as a head teacher and executive headteacher, of how to ensure PSHE is at the heart of the school. We discuss the conditions that make a PSHE curriculum become more than just a lesson and the importance of creating a shared responsibility...

As we gradually welcome children back into school, it helps to have a strategy of positive communication about the times we have all been through. There is a lot of talk in the media about the need to ‘catch up’, ‘the lost generation’ and ‘lost time’, however this does not engender a feeling of hope and positivity for staff, pupils or their parents. Rather than using what Mark Goodwin terms a ‘def...

Halcyon Podcasts Season 2 Mental Health in Schools. Welcome to the second season of Halcyon Podcasts, putting mental health and wellbeing in schools at the centre of our interviews with everyday experts and students. We’re delighted to bring you a range of valuable insights, advice and practical strategies, and thank all of our interviewees for the time that they have generously given to share the...

In this first episode of season 2 of Halcyon Education podcasts, Anna Bateman interviews Keri Haw, a mental health lead working in an all-through school. Keri shares her insight and wisdom about how schools can adapt during these difficult times of the Covid-19 lockdown, and acknowledges the importance of looking after the mental wellbeing of staff, as well as pupils, as schools slowly reopen.

Anna Bateman provides this comprehensive guide to emotional literacy in schools. This podcast includes advice on the language of emotion, how to recognise internal and external expressions of feelings, and gives tips on how to adopt adaptive rather than maladaptive behaviours when faced with feelings of overwhelm. We recommend downloading our accompanying handout 'Emotional Literacy in School' for...

Our everyday expert Dawn Dance talks about the importance and scope of mental health leads in schools, along with practical suggestions for the role, and how to garner support from the wider school community including staff and parents. Visit our podcast webpage to download our accompanying handout. https://halcyon.education/podcasts/

Petrina Poleon is Deputy Head teacher at Cofton Primary School. In this episode, she shares her ideas for how to recognise children who 'always do the right thing'. By creating 'The Always Club', children are regularly rewarded and praised for sustained good behaviour and for setting a good example to others. Petrina explains the importance of acknowledging the positives in children's behaviour, a...

Suneta Bagri has been a head teacher for the last 4 years and now coaches teaching staff in the art of self-care via her project Every Teacher Matters. Stress affects performance and impacts pupils, which is why, in Suneta’s view, it is incredibly important to look after teacher’s wellbeing. She gives us pointers for spotting the early signs of burnout and influential factors that often lead to ov...

Millie has recently been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Condition after suffering over 10 years of mental health problems. In this episode she kindly shares what strategies schools and colleges could put in place to offer support that really could make a huge difference to students.

Spotting the signs of Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and anxiety - as shared by Millie. In this first of our double episode, we hear from Millie about the experiences she had in school growing up without a diagnosis of ASC and how schools could spot the signs earlier if they know what to look for.

Insights from 3 young male students sharing their experience of growing up in school. Find out the areas where schools can make a real difference to their mental health, gain a greater understanding of the male perspective on mental health issues and how schools can provide support.

Dr Carl Harris, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, shares his thoughts on how best to support young people when they present with a mental health difficulty in school. He offers excellent advice on creating a model that builds confidence for mental health leads, teachers and staff as well as students - a process that provides support for everyone involved. He also offers strategies for managing exa...

What's at the heart of this inspection from a mental health perspective? Anna Bateman presents a step by step guide. This guide is based on my opinion and interpretation of the handbook and the links to mental health, having analysed reports and spoken to senior leaders who have experienced the new inspection framework. Listen now to hear an in depth analysis of the changes you need to be aware of...

Three students from Year 10 share their thoughts and insights into what it is like growing up in a world full of social media, the positives and negatives, and the issues that really lie at the heart of their anxieties. They offer suggestions for how schools and teachers can do things that, for them, would make a huge difference. Visit www. Halcyon.education.com/podcasts/ for free detailed resourc...