Why the school chose the award 

Appleton Primary School first achieved the Wellbeing Award for Schools (WAS) to embed a culture where wellbeing and mental health are prioritised for pupils, staff, and families. The reassessment in 2025 provided an opportunity to reflect, refine, and demonstrate the school’s continued commitment to ensuring wellbeing remains at the heart of everything they do. 

Key achievements 

1. Pupil wellbeing 

• Calm corners in every classroom promote emotional regulation and wellbeing language. 
• A strong PSHE curriculum equips pupils with tools to manage their physical and mental wellbeing. 
• Pupil wellbeing ambassadors lead initiatives, supporting peers, designing activities, and helping create a culture of inclusion and care. 

2. Staff wellbeing 

• Bespoke CPD sessions covering mental health awareness and supporting additional needs. 
• Leaders actively listen to staff, addressing workload and fostering a culture of trust. 
• Staff describe the school as supportive, respectful, and based on strong teamwork. 

3. Parental engagement 

• Parents value the school’s support for both children and families. 
• Regular updates via newsletters and social media keep families informed. 
• Parents highlight the approachable, caring ethos of staff and the school’s focus on personal development. 

4. Leadership and culture 

• Wellbeing is embedded across policies, systems, and practices. 
• Leaders use the WAS framework as an ongoing diagnostic tool to evaluate progress. 
• A proactive approach to inclusion ensures pupils with SEND are fully supported, with staff training aligned to whole-child development. 

Impact at Appleton Primary 

• Pupils feel safe, supported, and confident to talk about their wellbeing. 
• Staff morale is high, with strong professional development and open communication. 
• Parents feel reassured by the consistent support and resources provided. 
• The school community works together to reduce stigma around mental health and embed a shared wellbeing vision. 

The reassessment confirmed that Appleton’s commitment to wellbeing is not a one-off initiative but a sustained, embedded priority. 

In their words 

“We are delighted to be awarded the Wellbeing Award for Schools a second time. Working towards our reassessment has given us the opportunity to reflect on previous work and to make sure that the wellbeing of everyone involved with Appleton Primary School remains a high priority. Gaining the award again validates all the hard work that we do to support wellbeing in our school community. It is very satisfying to know that even though we have faced a lot of challenges and changes throughout the last 3 years we continue to be able to have the wellbeing of everyone at the forefront of what we do.”

Headteacher, Appleton Primary School 

Looking ahead 

Appleton Primary School is focused on: 

• Strengthening systems for parental engagement during key transition phases. 
• Encouraging staff to take even greater ownership of their own wellbeing. 
• Continuing to embed inclusion, personal development, and wellbeing across the curriculum and school culture. 

Interested in achieving the same impact? 

The Wellbeing Award for Schools helps schools like Appleton create lasting change by embedding emotional health and wellbeing into the whole school community. Find out more about the award and how your school can begin its journey today.