Here at STFS we greatly value and place importance upon the well-being, both physical and mental, of our pupils and staff. Pastoral care is delivered to pupils on many levels; from Form Tutors, Learning Leaders, Support Staff and Senior Leadership to name a few. We do not underestimate either the importance of strong peer support throughout the school, and this is reflected in our successful peer mentoring systems and extra-curricular activities.

Strong links and communication between home and school are vital in ensuring the needs of all pupils are met. We warmly welcome and actively encourage all parents and carers to be partners with us at STFS, enabling us to deliver the best pastoral care and support to our pupils. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Form Tutor, with any concerns you may have.

Buckinghamshire was selected as one of the first ‘Trailblazer’ sites in the UK; aiming to transform young people’s mental health. STFS is one of only forty schools initially recruited to take part within the county. This is a Government funded project which aims to roll out across the country over the next few years.

NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group is working alongside Buckinghamshire County Council and Buckinghamshire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service - CAMHS (run by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust in the county), to create dedicated Mental Health Support Teams. These Mental Health Support Teams are made up of a range of professionals who can respond to any mental health concerns students may experience. They build upon support already in place from CAMHS and school counsellors, to offer timely assessments and interventions for students in need, treating those with mild to moderate mental health issues in school where possible. If pupils have more severe needs, the teams can link to specialist NHS services at Buckinghamshire CAMHS and ensure they get the right support and treatment as quickly as possible.

Referrals need to be made by school staff. If you feel that these services could benefit your child, please contact their Form Tutor to discuss further.

We work closely with Freya Waller, Education Mental Health Practitioner at Bucks MHST. She is a familiar face around school and often attends our events.

Who is Bucks Mental Health Support Team?

Bucks Mental Health Support Team (MHST) supports children and young people who have difficulties with their mental health and emotional wellbeing, including anxiety, low mood and challenges with behaviour, confidence, and self-esteem. We provide evidence-based therapeutic support both individually and in groups to young people and parents.

Our MHST plays a key role in promoting emotional wellbeing and mental health awareness in educational settings. We are in the unique position to offer a range of therapeutic support within the school environment which minimizes the amount of time young people are away from learning.

How does MHST differ from the CAMHS?

Working in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council, our team consists of Education Mental Health Practitioners, Youth Workers, and Family Workers.

The MHST draws upon the collective knowledge and resources of care providers that usually operate as stand-alone services. Staff in the MHST have the unique opportunity to work within the school environment, helping to bridge the gap between education and mental health care.

Would you like MHST support?

We work with young people with mild to moderate mental health issues providing a range of practical, emotional, and social support.

If you are a young person or a parent and you would like support from the MHST please speak to your Form Tutor, Head of Year or School Nurse.

For further information please click here to visit our website.

There are many useful resources available to pupils and parents to help support emotional wellbeing and mental health. Please visit links below which may useful tools to provide support and understanding of often difficult issues, as well as helping your child to build resilience in their everyday life.