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Today's children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world, seamlessly living their lives both online and offline. This presents numerous positive and exciting opportunities, but it also brings forth challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to acquire the knowledge necessary to stay safe, healthy, and to effectively manage their academic, personal, and social lives in a positive manner.

To confront the challenges of building a happy and successful adult life, students require knowledge that empowers them to make informed decisions regarding their well-being, health, relationships, and to enhance their self-efficacy. This knowledge equips students with the ability to make sound decisions when encountering risks, challenges, and complex situations. Everyone encounters difficult situations in their lives. These subjects can support young people in developing resilience, knowing how and when to seek help, and understanding where to access support.

Schools Consent Project

The Schools Consent Project deliver hour-long workshops to 11-18-year-olds on the legal definition of consent, how to identify consent, bystander intervention, the ages of consent, responding to disclosures and ways to obtain help. The workshop is delivered through a series of fun, interactive games and exercises aimed at gently challenging the students’ misconceptions and bringing about safer, healthier interactions. By adopting a legal approach, The Consent Project are able to address subjects that can otherwise feel challenging, sensitive, or simply taboo. Their workshops give young people agency, enabling them to fully understand the law around sex and consent in order to make informed and sensible decisions. Each workshop is delivered to a maximum of 35 students.

The Schools Consent Project are the only organisation of its kind that provides legal education to school-age children. They believe that these conversations ought to be happening at a young age for there to be real and lasting change.

During the week commencing Monday, November 27th, 'The Schools Consent Project' will conduct workshops for all students and staff at The Westgate School. Additionally, we will also be holding a parent workshop on the evening of Thursday, December 14th, 2023. More information about this event will be provided to you closer to the date.

Please see The Schools Consent Project’s website for more information: https://www.schoolsconsentproject.com/

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Mental Health Awareness Week

On the week commencing Monday 9th October, all students recieved an assembly on ‘World Mental Heatlh Day’ delivered by Miss Fisher.

Mental Health - “is a state of well being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” - World Health Organisation.

With a notable increase in the number of young people in the U.K. experiencing poor mental health, The Westgate School aims to support each student with their emotional health and well-being. This includes promoting positive mental health. As a staff body we approach this in various ways, including through our safeguarding team, pastoral team, tutor time programmes, and as part of the PDC curriculum.

For any student who may be experiencing poor mental health, we have qualified Mental Health First Aiders along with our safeguarding team who are available to listen, offer advice, mentor or signpost parents/students to agencies who can offer guidance.

We are aiming to work with our young people who may need additional support with tutor-time interventions which would focus on skills such as mindfulness.