Why relevant School Mental Health qualifications matter more than ever
New research from Anna Freud offers a stark insight into how supported families feel when it comes to children’s mental health and wellbeing. New research from Anna Freud offers a stark insight into how supported families feel when it comes to children’s mental health and wellbeing. In a nationally representative survey of 1,120 UK parents […]
Minds Ahead Student’s Graduation 2026
By Claire Sewell, Professional Development Lead at Minds Ahead Attending graduation at Leeds Beckett University is an honour and a privilege, but this year’s ceremony felt particularly meaningful as it was my first one as a programme lead. As I got near to The Rose Bowl there was a warm mix of excitement and a sense of […]
One Million Referrals Are Not Just a Statistic. They Are a Call to Rethink School Mental Health.
The latest figures highlighted by Sky News and the Children’s Commissioner should stop us all in our tracks. he latest figures highlighted by Sky News and the Children’s Commissioner should stop us all in our tracks. More than one million children in England now have an active referral to Children and Young People’s Mental Health […]
Compare Our Flagship Programmes
School Mental Health Specialist vs. Leadership of School Mental Health (Masters) Choosing the right programme depends on the kind of impact you want to make. Both qualifications are part of Minds Ahead’s pioneering School Mental Health Qualifications Framework, but they serve different professional pathways. Explore the key distinctions below to find the route that aligns […]
You cannot build resilient children with depleted adults
Why staff wellbeing is a system issue, not a side conversation “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” It is a familiar phrase. And in education, it is often acknowledged—but not always acted on. Because in practice, schools are still expected to do more, respond faster, and hold increasing complexity—often without a corresponding shift in […]
Strength in Collaboration: Why Working Across Educational Settings Matters
One of the greatest assets we have in education is each other. No single school, college, or practitioner holds all the answers — but collectively, our experience, creativity, and commitment form an incredibly powerful resource for children and young people. Collaboration across settings isn’t just a “nice to have”. It’s a driver of meaningful, sustainable improvement. When we connect […]
Case study: Leading a whole‑school mental health strategy: How Lucy McCabe improved her school’s wellbeing
Lucy McCabe Assistant Headteacher: Personal Development/Mental Health and Wellbeing, King’s Academy Prospect, Reading Lucy joined the postgraduate programme in school mental health leadership to deepen her understanding of how schools can develop more effective approaches to supporting pupil wellbeing. Through the programme, Lucy explored research on protective factors, early intervention and holistic school mental health […]
Case study: Engaging parents and families in wellbeing: How Leah Proctor improved her school’s wellbeing
Leah Proctor Pastoral leader, Primary and Nursery school in Derbyshire Leah recognised that supporting pupil wellbeing requires strong partnerships between schools and families. Her studies explored how family engagement supports children’s mental health. She organised workshops for parents focusing on understanding anxiety, practical support strategies and strengthening communication between families and the school. Parents reported […]
When loss shows up as behaviour: what schools need to see (and do)
Loss is part of many children’s lives—family separation, bereavement, friendship breakdown, or significant change. But in schools, loss is rarely recognised in its early stages. Not because it isn’t there, but because it doesn’t look how we expect. It doesn’t usually present as sadness. It presents as behaviour. Irritability. Withdrawal. Disruption. Inconsistency. And too often, this […]
Case study: Embedding preventative wellbeing systems: How Lakshmi Divakarla improved her school’s wellbeing
Lakshmi Divakarla Emotional Literacy Support Teaching Assistant, Francis Askew Primary School, Hull Lakshmi joined the School Mental Health Specialist programme to deepen her understanding of how schools can improve support for children’s wellbeing. The programme explored resilience, protective factors and preventative mental health strategies. Lakshmi introduced wellbeing conversations with pupils, developed the school’s emotional literacy […]