Student Support/Pastoral
Support is always available here at Co-op Academy Walkden - no problem is too big or too small.
The Pastoral Team
The Pastoral Team is made up of non-teaching staff who have the time and expertise to support you throughout your time at Walkden. They make sure you are safe, happy, and settled. Each year group has their own Head. This Head of Year will stay with you throughout your time at the Academy. This means they will get to know you well and can support you as an individual.
Personal Development Tutors
We want you to be cared for as an individual at Walkden, and having your own Personal Development Tutors makes sure that this happens. Every student is given a Personal Development Tutor when they start in Year 7
Personal Development system work at Walkden
We want you to be cared for as an individual at Walkden, and having your own Personal Development Tutor makes sure that this happens. Every student is given a PD Tutor when they start in Year 7.
PD Tutors remain consistent throughout KS3 and students move to a new PD Tutor for KS4. PD Tutors support you each day during PD sessions which are after lunch for KS3 and before lunch for KS4. During these 30 minute sessions your PD Tutor supports your character development and helps with your pastoral needs. Find out more about Personal Development here.
What do we do in Personal Development time?
Personal Development Time is a mixture of structured activities and pastoral care. Alongside the Personal Development curriculum, we also give time to Personal Development Tutors to have pastoral conversations with you. This might be about your attendance, punctuality, or behaviour. It might be about any achievements that your PD Tutor has been told about or it might be about any issues you are having. Through forming relationships with your PD Tutor you will have the daily support of an adult that you know well.
What day will my assembly be on?
We have assemblies for all year groups once a week. The rota is:
- Monday – Year 7
- Tuesday – Year 8
- Wednesday – Year 9
- Thursday – Year 10
- Friday – Year 11
Assemblies are led by Heads of Year and Progress Leaders. Assemblies support the Personal Development and PSHE curriculums and will often be delivered by SLT, other Academy staff who have particular areas of expertise and external speakers. It is also a place where you are rewarded for consistent attendance and for good behaviour and effort in lessons.
Who can I talk to when I am worried?
If you have a worry or an issue, it’s always best to talk to an adult about it. Here you can find information about who you can talk to, and some organisations you can talk to outside of school hours.
Who can help in school?
You can speak to any member of staff you feel comfortable speaking to. This could be your:
- Your Personal Development tutor.
- Your Head of Year
- Your Progress Leader
- Your Learning Support Assistant
- Any of our Designated Safeguarding Leads
- Any other member of staff
Remember, there are some members of staff who have special responsibilities for your welfare:
- Miss K Peet – Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Mrs E Beattie – Deputy DSL /Safeguarding Officer
- Mrs S King – SENCO & Designated Teacher
- Mrs L Corry – Deputy DSL/EH Coordinator
- Mrs L Dronfield – Deputy DSL/ CFC Coordinator
- Miss M Gee – Inclusion Manager
Support outside of school
You might find you need to speak to someone at evenings, weekends and during holidays. We recommend the organisations below to our students or you can download the early help signposting list issued from Salford Council.
During social distancing, Early Break are now offering help to students who are struggling because of a parents/carers alcohol or drug misuse. Find their services here
Further, during the shutdown, if parents or carers need help with buying food, you can ring ‘Spirit of Salford’ – 0800 952 100. They can deliver food straight to your door.
42nd Street | 0161 228 7321 | http://42ndstreet.org.uk/
42nd Street: supporting young people with their emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Big White Wall | https://www.bigwhitewall.com/
A safe community which will help support your mental health needs.
Blue Ice App | https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/blueice/
BlueIce is an evidenced-based app to help young people manage their emotions and reduce urges to self-harm.
Body Dysmorphia and Body image support | https://bddfoundation.org/
Help and support for those struggling with body image or body dysmorphia.
CALM | 0800 58 58 58 | https://www.thecalmzone.net
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading an organisation to men who are feeling suicidal.
Calm Harm | https://calmharm.co.uk/
An app to help those at risk of self-harm.
Catch it | https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/catch-it/
Learn how to manage feelings, such as anxiety and depression. The app teaches you how to look at problems in a different way.
Childline | 0800 11 11| www.childline.org.uk
A free 24 hour service by phone and online. Their website has some great information about a range of problems.
Daylio | https://daylio.webflow.io/
A mood tracker and journal app.
Greater Manchester against Domestic Abuse | http://www.endthefear.co.uk/
For help and support for people who are living with domestic abuse.
Headspace | https://www.headspace.com/
A mindfulness app you can use daily.
Independent Choices | 0161 636 7525 | helpline@independentchoices.org.uk
For help and support for people who are living with domestic abuse.
Kooth | Kooth.com
A free, anonymous, confidential website where young people can go for online counselling support.
Mind Shift | https://healthyyoungmindspennine.nhs.uk/resource-centre/apps/mindshift/
MindShift is a free app designed to help teens and young adults cope with anxiety.
Moodpath | https://mymoodpath.com/en/
If you’re struggling with depression or anxiety, the Moodpath app can help you with well being.
My Cognition home | https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/mycognition-home/
MyCognition Home is a brain training app.
My Possible Self | https://www.mypossibleself.com/
A mental health app.
Papyrus |0800 068 41 41 | https://papyrus-uk.org/
Papyrus is a charity to help young people who are at risk of suicide.
Samaritans | 116 123 | jo@samaritans.org
Available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.
Shout | Text 85258 | https://www.giveusashout.org/
Shout is the UK’s first 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere.
Silver Cloud |https://www.silvercloudhealth.com/uk
8 week course to help manage stress.
Smiling Mind | https://www.smilingmind.com.au/
An app to be used to promote mindfulness.
Young Minds | www.youngminds.org.uk
A website with lots of information about mental health and the services that are available from the NHS.