Student Support

We provide a wide range of pastoral support services for students, including non-teaching Student Support Managers, School Chaplain, Peer Mentors….

Our new Student Services area is now complete and in operation. This brings together the student support team within the same area. Students can access staff to help them remove barriers to learning from this central area, next to the Atrium.

Self Help

Advice and Guidance

Students are encouraged to take on board the advice and guidance given through form time, SPACE (Social, Personal, Aspirational, Careers and Ethics) Education programme, assemblies and regular lessons regarding physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing.

If You Need Local Help With Child Mental Health

Level Two Counselling

Level Two are now able to offer a counselling service for young people aged 11-25, with a registered counsellor. Counselling is a type of talking therapy that allows a person to talk about their problems and feelings in a confidential and dependable environment; at Level Two, counsellors are able to offer a FREE service for one to one counselling. If you have any questions and would like to find out more, or would like to talk to someone in confidence, please contact Lisa Miles on 07470 591951 or email lisamileslevel2@gmail.com.

Your GP

They will be able to provide help and advice. Your GP can also provide access to appropriate specialist services and local organisations.

Call 111

You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.

NHS mental health services

Find local mental health services on the NHS website. http://www.nhs.uk

Suffolk Emotional Wellbeing Gateway

Parents and carers can find information and advice, and also complete self-referrals to the Suffolk Emotional Wellbeing Hub. Contact 0345 600 2090.

National help

• Childline: Free 24-hour counselling service for children and young people up to their 19th birthday. Call 0800 1111 or visit https://www.childline.org.uk.
• Mind-Infoline: Offers advice and support to service users; has a network of local associations in England and Wales to which people can turn for help. Call 0300 123 3393, text number: 86463, website http://www.mind.org.uk.
• SANE: Provides practical help, emotional support and specialist information for people aged 16 and over with mental health problems, their family, friends and carers. Call 0300 304 7000 or visit www.sane.org.uk.
• Anti-Bullying Alliance: Whether you are a parent/carer, young person, or work with young people; if you’re worried about bullying or want to find out where you can get advice and support this is the section for you! Visit www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk. 
• The Source: Information and support for young people in Suffolk. Topics and support offered for careers, apprenticeships, health, relationships, leisure, money, transport and housing – www.thesource.me.uk.
• Bullying UK: Bullying advice for children and their carers – www.familylives.org.uk/advice/bullying.
• RESPECT: We lead on the development of safe, effective work with perpetrators, male victims, and young people using violence in their close relationships – https://www.respect.uk.net/.
• Lighthouse: Lighthouse is a Suffolk-based charity that supports women, young people and children who are affected by domestic abuse – www.lighthousewa.org.uk.
• Action for Children: We protect and support children and young people, providing practical and emotional care and support. We ensure their voices are heard, and campaign to bring lasting improvements to their lives – www.actionforchildren.org.uk.
• Refuge: Refuge is the largest domestic abuse organisation in the UK. On any given day our services support thousands of women and their children, helping them to overcome the physical, emotional, financial and logistical impacts of abuse and rebuild their lives, free from fear – www.refuge.org.uk.
• Women’s Aid: Women’s Aid is a grassroots federation working together to provide life-saving services and build a future where domestic violence is not tolerated – https://www.womensaid.org.uk.
• White Ribbon: White Ribbon is the UK’s leading charity engaging men and boys to end violence against women and girls – https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk.
• The Ferns: Welcome to the Ferns, a Sexual Assault Referral Centre providing free support to all those who have been affected by sexual abuse – https://www.theferns-suffolk.org.uk.
• Rape Crisis: Our member Rape Crisis centres provide free support and services for victims and survivors of rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse and all forms of sexual violence – https://rapecrisis.org.uk/.
• Catch 22: Catch22 designs and delivers public services that build resilience and aspiration in people and communities – www.catch-22.org.uk.
• FRANK: Honest information about drugs – www.talktofrank.com.
• Fearless: Fearless is a site where you can access non-judgemental information and advice about crime and criminality. What makes this site different is we also provide you with a safe place to give information to us about crime, 100% anonymously – https://www.fearless.org.
• Drink Aware: Alcohol Awareness information – www.drinkaware.co.uk.
• NHS Smoke Free: Advice on how to stop smoking – www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking.
• Quit Because: Advice on how to stop smoking – www.quit.org.uk/youth-services.
• Drug Free World: Drug Free World, educating adults and youth in the dangers and truth about drugs – www.drugfreeworld.co.uk.
• Step by Step: At Step by Step we passionately believe in supporting local young people who are going through hard times. We take a unique step by step approach, providing accommodation, personal development opportunities, and specialist support services. Our approach helps young people to identify and fulfil their aspirations – www.stepbystep.org.uk.
• Chat Health: Confidential help and advice. It’s safe and easy for you to speak to a qualified health professional. Just send a message, you don’t have to give your name. Discreet and quick. It only takes one message to start making a difference. You’ll get confidential advice from trained health staff in your area – www.chathealth.nhs.uk.
• Supportline: Confidential telephone helpline offering emotional support to any individual on any issue – 01708 765200.
• Childnet International: Helpful information and guidance on a range of key online safety topics – www.childnet.com.
• Think U Know?: The National Crime Agency’s CEOP Education team aim to help protect children and young people from online child sexual abuse. We do this through our education programme, providing training, resources and information to professionals working with children, young people and their families – www.thinkuknow.co.uk.
• Cyber Mentors: CyberMentorPLUS is an award-winning programme that empowers young people to tackle cyberbullying and champion positive behaviour online. Rated 100% effective by participating schools, this groundbreaking programme is now available nationwide – www.cybermentorplus.org.
• Brook: Your free confidential sexual health and wellbeing experts – www.brook.org.uk.
• Let’s Talk About It: The PHR (Personal Health Record) brings together appointment booking, STI Test Kit ordering and Condoms by Post all in one place – www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk.
• Terrence Higgins Trust: We’re the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity. We support people living with HIV and amplify their voices, and help the people using our services to achieve good sexual health – www.tht.org.uk.
• Tackling Racism – www.tackling-racism.co.uk.
• Stonewall: We are a team of bold, passionate people fighting for the freedom, equity and potential of LGBTQ+ people everywhere – www.stonewall.org.uk.
• NHS – Every Mind Matters: Be kind to your mind. There are small things we can all do to help be kind to your mind, and these can make a big difference to how we feel. Get expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental wellbeing and make them part of your daily routine – www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters.
• Beat: Provides helplines, self-help groups and online support to anyone affected by eating disorders. Helpline: 0808 801 0677, Youthline: 0808 801 0711, Studentline: 0808 801 0811. Website – www.b-eat.co.uk.
• The Samaritans: The Samaritans provide a confidential service for people in despair and who feel suicidal. Call 116 123 or visit website – www.samaritans.org.uk.
• NSPCC  Provides helplines and information on child abuse, child protection and safeguarding children. Call 0808 800 5000 or visit https://www.nspcc.org.uk/.
• Young Minds: Young Minds has a parent helpline that offers free confidential telephone and email support to any adult worried about the wellbeing of a child or young person. Call 0808 802 5544 or visit http://www.youngminds.org.uk/for_parents.
• Youth Wellbeing Directory: Helps you find support for mental health and wellbeing of young people up to age 25 across the UK – https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/youth-wellbeing/.
• HaveIGotAProblem.com: Free resource about mental health and addiction issues. It has advice and documents on issues including depression, anxiety, self-harm, bipolar, eating disorders and coping – http://www.haveigotaproblem.com/.
• Helplines partnership: Provides a comprehensive list of mental health helplines in the UK – https://helplines.org/helplines/.
• Mental Health Foundation: This website offers a wide range of information about mental health issues – http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk.
• Health Talk Online: Aims to provide balanced information about the experience of everyday life with a range of health conditions and issues, what to expect both physically and mentally, overcoming practical difficulties, making decisions about treatment and talking to health professionals – http://www.healthtalk.org/.
• YouthinMind: YouthinMind is an online resource for information about mental health and offers brief assessments. It also provides links to other useful books, websites and services – http://youthinmind.info/py/yiminfo/.

Other Online Resources 

• Your Mind Plan – An interactive quiz which provides tailored support for better mental health and wellbeing.
• Mental Health First Aid England – Resources for adults and young people.
• Kooth – Free, safe, anonymous support for young people.

Student Voice

Our Student Voice is made up of House Champions- democratically elected from each form group across the school. House Champions meet every Week 1 Wednesday during form time. They bring perspectives and opinions from their respective form groups, and are solution-focussed.

Extra Curricular

Students are encouraged to participate in a number of extra-curricular activities, these are listed on the website, and include sports clubs, discussion groups, catch-up clubs and music groups.