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Place2Be's Wellbeing in Schools Awards - Judging Criteria

We've outlined everything you need to know to enter Place2Be's Wellbeing in Schools Awards, including the details of each Award category, essential guidance and top tips to help your nomination stand out to the judges.

Essential guidance

The online form does not have a ‘save’ function, therefore you may want to draft your entry offline (e.g. on a Microsoft Word document) before submitting it via the online form.
Please ensure you stick to the maximum word count of 600 words.
Partner schools may enter multiple categories but please note, it is one nomination per category.
Seek permission from the person that you are nominating (and their parent / carer if under 18) to make sure that they are happy to be entered and featured in the publicity of the Awards.
Ensure that anyone you have nominated, or a designated school representative, is able to attend the awards ceremony on Monday 13 June 2022 (late afternoon / early evening) at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly in central London.
Judges will consider how Place2Be’s key values have been demonstrated and upheld by the person or school being nominated: compassion, integrity, perseverance and creativity.
Once you have submitted your application, you will see an on-screen 'thank you' message and receive a confirmation email. If this does not happen, please resubmit your application.
Please read the T&Cs and FAQs before you submit your nomination(s).
Take a look at our top tips to help your nomination stand out.

Categories:

1. Child Champion Award

This Award is for a child aged 4-11, in a Place2Be partner school and recognises the child who has shown an inspiring commitment to supporting the wellbeing of others and championing positive mental health.

Please focus on evidence from the past two academic years. The judges will be looking for specific evidence and examples of the following:

Innovation and creativity of the child
Their dedication and passion to championing the cause in school and beyond
How their inclusive approach has reached all pupils in school, ensuring support is accessible and welcoming to all
The impact of their efforts on others in their school community

2. Young Champion Award

This Award is for a young person aged 11-18, in a Place2Be partner school and recognises the young person who has shown an inspiring commitment to supporting the wellbeing of others and championing positive mental health.

Please focus on evidence from the past two academic years. The judges will be looking for specific evidence and examples of the following:

The innovation and creativity of the young person
Their dedication and passion to championing the cause in school and beyond
How their inclusive approach has reached all pupils in school, ensuring support is accessible and welcoming to all
The impact of their efforts on others in their school community

3. Adult Champion Award

This Award recognises an adult in a Place2Be partner school* who has shown an inspiring commitment to supporting the wellbeing of others in their school community and championing positive mental health.

Please focus on evidence from the past two academic years. The judges will be looking for specific evidence and examples of the following:

The innovation and creativity of the individual
Their dedication and passion to championing the cause in school and beyond
How their efforts have promoted better representation and inclusion
The impact of their efforts on others in their school community, including pupils, families and staff

* e.g. teaching staff (non-SLT), support staff, office or facilities staff members, governors or parents/carers. To nominate a School Leader, enter the 'Outstanding School Leader Award' below.

4. Outstanding School Leader Award

This Award recognises the School Leader* at a Place2Be partner school who has shown an inspiring commitment to ensuring positive mental health and wellbeing are at the heart of school life.

Please focus on evidence from the past two academic years. The judges will be looking for specific evidence and examples of the following:

A long-term ambition to create a mentally healthy school culture, as evidenced through policy, strategy and practice
The innovation and creativity of the individual
Examples of when they have gone above and beyond the typical remit of their role, to promote positive mental health and wellbeing of those in their school
How their inclusive efforts have promoted equal opportunities to access support across the school population, inclusive of diverse characteristics
The impact of their efforts on others in their school community, including pupils, families and staff
Their leadership and professionalism

* This recognises a member of the Senior Leadership Team e.g. Head Teacher, Deputy Head, Assistant Head, Principal, Executive Head.

5. The Christine Merrell Mental Health Professional Award

This Award - in memory of Professor Christine Merrell, who championed wellbeing in education and believed evidence should be at the heart of all work - recognises the Place2Be mental health professional in a Place2Be partner school* who has gone above and beyond to support a whole-school approach to mental wellbeing.

Please focus on evidence from the past two academic years. The judges will be looking for specific evidence and examples of the following:

How the nominee has used the assessment and formulation process and evidence from their school service, to refine and enhance our service offer
Their innovation and creativity in reaching different parts of the school community
Their dedication and passion for championing the cause in school
The impact of their efforts on others in their school community, including pupils, families and staff
Their efforts to help others better support and champion positive mental health
The professionalism and high standards of the individual

* e.g. Place2Be School Project Manager, School-based Counsellor, Mental Health Practitioner/Manager, Family Practitioner providing an embedded Place2Be school service.

6. The Exceptional Counsellor on Placement Award

This Award recognises the Place2Be Counsellor on Placement in a Place2Be partner school, who has gone above and beyond to help create a positive change for a child or young person.

Please focus on evidence from the past two academic years. The judges will be looking for specific evidence and examples of the following:

How the nominee has applied skills learned through Place2Be’s Counsellor on Placement training and free clinical workshops in their therapeutic work
Their innovation and creativity in building therapeutic relationships within Place2Be’s therapeutic approach, including awareness of working with difference
How the nominee has made use of their clinical supervision to develop their clinical practice in the Place2Be room
Their dedication and passion for supporting children / young people
The impact of their efforts on the children / young people they have supported (can this be evidenced with outcome data?)
The professionalism and high ethical standards of the individual

7. School Award for Mental Health Excellence - Primary

This Award recognises the Place2Be partner primary school that has shown an inspiring commitment to a ‘whole school approach’ to mental health, creating a positive culture and offering support to all those who need it.

Please focus on evidence from the past two academic years. The judges will be looking for specific evidence and examples of how the school has made use of their Place2Be service to demonstrate the following:

An ethos that sees mental health and wellbeing across the day-to-day school life, and regarded as 'everybody's business' in the school community
Awareness and engagement across all members of staff, including efforts to support staff wellbeing
Engagement and involvement of parents/carers and pupils
Activities that develop children's resilience - both in and out of the classroom
Universal and targeted mental health support
A commitment to ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion of access to support and unlocking potential
A commitment to ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion of access to support, to unlocking potential

8. School Award for Mental Health Excellence – Secondary / All-through

This Award recognises the Place2Be partner Secondary / All-through school that has shown an inspiring commitment to a ‘whole school approach’ to mental health, creating a positive culture and offering support to all those who need it.

Please focus on evidence from the past two academic years. The judges will be looking for specific evidence and examples of how the school has made use of their Place2Be service to demonstrate the following:

an ethos that regards the wellbeing and mental health of the children and young people as “everyone’s business” in the school.

An ethos that sees mental health and wellbeing across the day-to-day school life, and regarded as 'everybody's business' in the school community
Awareness and engagement across all members of staff, including efforts to support staff wellbeing
Engagement and involvement of parents/carers and pupils
Activities that develop young people's resilience - both in and out of the classroom
Universal and targeted mental health support
A commitment to ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion of access to support and unlocking potential
A commitment to ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion of access to support, to unlocking potential

9. The Mina Dell Mentally Healthy School Award

This Award recognises the school that has utilised Place2Be training* most effectively, in its journey towards promoting positive mental health for the whole school community.

Please focus on evidence from the past two academic years. The judges will be looking for specific evidence and examples of how Place2Be training has been applied to ensure:

Mental health and wellbeing are embedded across day-to-day school life and are regarded as ‘everybody’s business’ in the school community
Awareness and engagement across all members of staff, including efforts to support staff wellbeing
Engagement and involvement of parents/carers
Activities that develop children and young people’s resilience - both in and out of the classroom
Targeted support on-site for those identified with mental health needs and good links with partnership services

* This training includes Place2Be’s ‘Senior Mental Health Leads training’ or Place2Be’s ‘Mental Health Champions - Foundation programme’ or ‘Place2Think - school mental health consultations’.

Top tips

Evidence and impact - demonstrate clear reasons for why your nominee should win. Share evidence of any impact or difference they have made - whether that's to the children, families, or the wider school community. Include statistics/evidence where possible.
Passion and detail - offer enough detail. Provide context and background with case examples, facts and figures, as well as passion and enthusiasm. This will make your entry memorable and engaging.
Testimonials - use the extra space to share inspiring soundbites and quotes to back up your nomination. They bring your nomination to life, add weight and significance, and show that others have been positively impacted.

Now you have all the information you need to make your nomination(s), you can enter the Awards.