Ryde School Wins Prestigious Wellbeing Award

A prestigious award has been given to Ryde School in recognition of its mental health and wellbeing provision for pupils and staff.

Ryde has received the Wellbeing Award for Schools for delivering the national framework to an ‘excellent level’ and developing a ‘whole-school culture’ around mental health.

A Verification Report by Optimus Education, which works in partnership with the National Children’s Bureau, said the impact of Ryde’s work was ‘clear, significant and far-reaching’.

Jemma Harding, Ryde School’s Deputy Head (Pastoral), said:

“We are so thrilled to win this award and it’s a wonderful testament to the daily dedication of our entire Ryde community. 

“We believe emotional resilience and mental clarity are key foundations for academic success and personal growth. 

“This award celebrates an ongoing, inclusive culture where every student and staff member feels safe, valued, and heard. 

“This work is very much at the heart of school life at Ryde and we will continue to do everything we can to nurture and support well-rounded individuals across our school community.”

The report referenced a series of highlights which led to Ryde receiving the award.

It said the school had embraced wellbeing as being ‘everybody’s business’ and had normalised language, removing stigma and promoting safety, transparency and reflection.

Pupils reported feeling safe, listened to and supported, while staff testimony demonstrated a strong impact, with pastoral care described as highly personalised, proactive and embedded across the whole school.

Significant investment in ensuring the school site supported wellbeing was acknowledged in the report, with the School’s Health and Wellbeing Centre and Prep Heart Centre both praised.

The use of its outdoor spaces, including the school yurt, plus wellbeing walks and visits to the beach, all provided meaningful opportunities for grounding, reflection and connection, the report said.

The report concluded by stating Ryde had built a sustainable culture where pupils, staff and parents understood wellbeing as a shared responsibility. 

It said the school’s work had strengthened relationships, improved confidence in systems, increased parent trust, supported pupil voice and created a more proactive pastoral model.