Pupils from across the College have engaged in various activities and assemblies as part of Place2Be Children’s Mental Health Week. 

This year's theme ‘My Voice Matters’, works to empower children and young people, provide them with the resources and tools they need to express themselves and allow children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to work together to create positive change. 

In Junior School, Mrs Tulloch, Head of Junior School, visited the Pupil Council where she encouraged the children to have an open dialogue with their peers and herself to enhance the Junior School experience. She was incredibly impressed by their energy and communication skills, and can't wait to hear more at the next meeting.

The children have also been learning more about mental health through their peers. Pupils from across the year groups have been taking turns to read out mental health information and fun facts over the Junior School tannoy system. 

Miss Jamieson, Principal Teacher of Junior School, highlighted: “Taking part in the annual Children’s Mental Health week allows us to continue the dialogue with our pupils about the importance of positive mental health. The daily tannoy announcements from our Pupil Council members are providing the Junior School pupils with tips on how to support their own mental health. These messages build on the work we have been undertaking in our health and wellbeing lessons on resilience, growth mindset and managing our emotions.

“Our recent Pupil Conferencing sessions have also provided an opportunity to have their voice heard and be listened to, in a one to one, uninterrupted dialogue with their class teacher. It is so important at RGC that our pupils feel valued and providing them with opportunities to share how they are feeling, and ensure that their views are being listened to, will support them to feel comfortable with expressing themselves further in later life and increase their feelings of self-worth.” 

In Senior School, form classes discussed how historically, voices have been silenced and marginalised and how to be resilient in the face of criticism and hate. Some of our Senior School year groups have also been attending assemblies led by Mr Macpherson, Head of College, on diversity. 

Mrs Willetts, Head of Guidance, shared: “We celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week every year at Robert Gordon’s College and it is always a positive week where we highlight the importance of speaking about our mental health. This year the theme of “My Voice Matters” brings together the importance of standing up for what you believe in and that young people’s voice should be heard by adults. This year explores raising up marginalised voices. Our work in PSE recently explores being a good ally, celebrates diversity and the role we all play in “calling in” people to the conversation so we can better understand each other. Children’s voices being heard invariably improves their mental health. At a school like Robert Gordon’s we strive to celebrate our differences and give children the space to learn from and educate each other.”

Mr Macpherson, Head of Robert Gordon’s College, said: “We talk about supporting pupils with their mental health every day at Robert Gordon’s, but to have an elevated focus for one week is really positive. We know that by being a cohesive, supportive and inclusive community we help pupils feel valued and confident, which in turn gives them strong mental health. We want to talk openly about our mental health and what we can do to improve it, and this week has given us the space to have some great conversations around that.”