Welcome Page: Page 2

I did want to draw attention to our 60th Anniversary in 2023. We have earmarked the date of 1st July for a particular celebration and more will follow on this early in the New Year. As part of this I am currently updating the book Martin Roberts (our greatly missed former Headteacher) wrote for our 40th Anniversary (and then updated for 50th). Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have anything you would like to share with me in relation to this. It is a landmark moment where we will be able to stop and reflect on what has been achieved since the school opened its doors to its first 260 students in 1963. It will also help to set the context for moving forward for our next generation of students and families

We do have a number of colleagues who are leaving us to move onto new roles. We wish them well in the knowledge that they will always be remembered and have a place with us at Cherwell.

Finally, sincere best wishes to you and your families. It has been a long couple of terms since September and everyone in the Cherwell community deserves a holiday. We will reconvene with energy restored in January 2023

Best Wishes

Chris Price Headteacher

A MESSAGE FROM OUR LEAD COUNSELLOR

Is it me, or are people very eager to celebrate Christmas this year more than usual? It wouldn’t surprise me, given that we are in the depths of winter and the news is looking even bleaker by the day. I’m afraid to report, we are now experiencing the aftermath of the pandemic in all sorts of ways, but especially on young people’s wellbeing. I’m not wanting to point the finger at the pandemic for absolutely everything, as the increase in the need for mental health support can also be accounted for by the feelings about the war in Ukraine, the climate crisis, austerity and the increase in food and energy costs that are weighing heavily on the minds of young people and their families.

So far this year we have seen an increase in 40% in referrals compared to the same time last year in the school’s counselling service. This demand is being seen across the country, as research from the NHS, published in November, reported that, ‘In 2022, 18.0% of children aged 7 to 16 years and 22.0% of young people aged 17 to 24 years had a probable mental disorder.’ (NHS Digital, 2022). I’m not too keen on the language of that quote, but you get the picture. The state of young people’s mental health, and adults too, could be much better.

Firstly, I think it’s important to remember that these worries for young people are very real and giving any impression that their feelings about societal ills, is a problem that needs to be addressed in them is unhelpful. Mental health professionals will have differing views on this, but I do think a lot of the causes, as I have listed above, are external, rather than internal. Sometimes it is just the case that the external factors are beyond our capacity to tolerate, and we can be left feeling overwhelmed.

Mental health exists on a continuum, and providing that the young person addresses these emotions appropriately, then there is little need for a ‘mental health professional’. The world would be a very unfulfilling place, if only a select few people with specialist training could be of help. Feelings of anger, disappointment, irritation, despair, outrage, despondency, sorrow, fatigue, distress, sadness, concern……. are all part of being human and can be an appropriate response. All too often, we promote the idea that to experience negative emotions, there must therefore be a mental health problem. Then young people are left to consult with Google about their feelings, rather than an adult. It might explain why we hear so often, young people diagnosing themselves with very serious disorders to legitimise their experience.

Sometimes in the counselling service, when we finish working with a student, they may report that they feel they have no one to talk to, now that the sessions have come to an end. There is usually someone in their life, and hopefully the counselling process has helped them to vocalise their needs, worries and concerns to their nearest and dearest. These comments though, are a reminder that young people (and adults), find just having a chat so helpful. However, it’s likely to be incumbent on you as the adult to take the initiative and start the conversation. Given that most adults are preoccupied with their own concerns about the cost-of-living crisis, quite understandably, it’s important we actively make time to listen to the young people in our lives. They are hearing the conversations we are having, and seeing the news about ever soaring prices and its impact on fundamental aspects of our lives most of us have taken for granted. So, ask them if they are worried about anything, give them an age-appropriate explanation. That may involve, teaching them how to budget effectively - this is what is coming in, and this is what is going out. Above all, ensure that they receive the message that the worries are not their responsibility to resolve.

Continued...