Know Stigma

By Mrs I Ali5th June 2018

To raise awareness of Mental Health and Wellbeing month in May, all Year 8 students were involved in the YNOT Aspire ‘Know Stigma’ Citizenship day.

Students had an opportunity to promote positive attitudes and to learn about effective strategies to support mental health concerns.

The day involved workshops from:

Assistant Headteacher Mrs Ali said: “The students thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and felt they had greatly benefited from the wealth of experience. All the sessions were active and extremely engaging.”

The theme continued with whole school assemblies to highlight the three main charities Rhyddings is supporting. Lancashire Minds, YoungMinds and the Mental Health Foundation.

Lancashire Minds and YoungMinds offer direct advice and support for young people, parents and all members of our community. Both charities are confidential and independent from school.

Mental Health Foundation is an independent charity with effective mental health strategies for adults.

In June, all students in Years 7-10 are involved in Health and Well-being mornings, the aim is to focus on the positive impact of physical health and to explore how diet and nutrition effects the body.

Students have opportunities to discuss the characteristics of realistic positive role models from social media and reflect on self-esteem through different body images. All students will discuss issues and facts surrounding sexual health and explore local services available.

Through the varied PSHE and cross-curricular Citizenship curriculum, emotional, physical and mental health wellbeing remains a priority for all our students.

Year 9 Citizenship Day

By Rhyddings9th June 2017

Sylvia Lancaster, mother of murdered teenager Sophie, spoke to students about the importance of celebrating differences in an emotional assembly as part of our recent Year 9 Citizenship Day.

Sophie was killed in 2007 by a group of youths because of the way that she dressed. Sylvia now heads the Sophie Lancaster Foundation and actively campaigns for tolerance, diversity and more protection for sub cultures against hate crime.

The foundation has many high profile supporters including patron Julie Hesmondhalgh, This Is England actress Vicky McClure and rock star Courtney Love who all wear the S.O.P.H.I.E. wristbands (Stamp Out Prejudice Hatred & Intolerance Everywhere).

Students also watched the animated short film ‘Dark Angel’ based on the night that Sophie and her boyfriend were attacked in Stubbylee Park in Bacup before taking part in other workshops that tackled hate crime, LGBT awareness and religious tolerance.

Assistant Headteacher Iffat Ali said: “The students were all deeply moved by Sylvia’s story and we are extremely grateful to her for coming into school to share it with us.

“Citizenship days like this give our students the chance to look at life from various different perspectives. This is essential for their social, spiritual, moral and cultural development.”

Discovering Democracy Award

By Rhyddings3rd December 2015
discoverdemocracy

Maizee-Leigh Cryne, Bethany Berry, Zak Miller, Mueeiz Ali, Megan Storey and Damon Smith.

Rhyddings has just received a brand new award for schools that encourage pupils to take an interest in the democratic process. We are one of the first 19 schools to be recognised by the British Youth Council for encouraging pupils to have their say in society – both within the school or through social action projects in the local community.

The Discovering Democracy Award, which was created to support the need to develop character as well as a strong grounding in core academic subjects, was launched by the British Youth Council in partnership with the Cabinet Office and the Department for Education in September.

The Award aims to showcase those schools who engage young people, particularly those aged 16+, with democracy from an early age, whether that is voting for their representatives or  a school council, or voter registration, or getting involved in social action campaigns.

All awards are judged by a panel of young people and will celebrate and share the success of schools and colleges that go further in equipping their students with the skills and knowledge to use their voice in our society.

Rhyddings held recent elections to elect student parliament candidates, where students were asked place their votes at ‘polling stations’ around school. They have also voted on the issues they would most like to be debated by their local youth parliament representative. Back in September, 15 students visited also visited the Houses of Parliament in London to help gain a better understanding of how the country is run.