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Danes Educational Trust hosts Mental Health Matters Conference

This week the Danes Educational Trust hosted a Mental Health Matters Conference for sharing best practice approaches to Mental Health and Wellbeing amongst schools. Approximately eighty teachers and support staff attended the conference when they had an opportunity to attend workshops and listen to speeches from mental health professionals and guests involved in mental health issues.

Old Dane Jack Rooke who is a comedian, campaigner, artist and writer gave a fascinating speech ‘Good Grief – a personal reflection’.  Jack's debut BBC Three series Happy Man was broadcast in April 2017, a documentary exploring alternative solutions to the male mental health crisis, which was nominated for Best Factual in the iTalkTelly Awards 2017 and earned Rooke a place on the BBC New Talent Hotlist 2017.​

BAFTA and Emmy Award winning Media Executive, Sallyann Keizer gave a speech ‘Finding Happy in a Digital World’. Managing Director of Sixth Sense Media Ltd., Sallyann set up the London-based independent production company in 2000 to give young people a voice - and to empower, inspire, entertain and inform children globally. Sallyann is passionate about children’s wellbeing and empowering them to live emotionally resilient lives. 

Sam Garner, a renowned trainer and speaker on Mental Health and SEN, gave a speech: ‘Supporting mental health in your school day to day’. A former SENCO and qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, Sam works with schools nationally and internationally.

The delegates had an opportunity to attend a selection of workshops titled 'Measuring Impact', 'Scratching the Surface', 'Rebalancing', 'Art Therapy in School', 'The Psychology of Learning', 'Resilience' and 'Circle of Friends'.

The conference was a great success with the delegates commenting on how informative and helpful they had found the programme, stating that they had gained much from the variety of workshops and talks available during the day.

 

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18th June

Pupil journalist Sam B secures national 'Student Voices' award

Our  talented pupil, Sam B, Year 9, has been named one of just five winners nationwide in the prestigious ' The Day's Student Voices Young Journalist Awards 2026. Sam B clinched the honour with a compelling, insightful opinion piece titled, “Life Isn't All Sunshine And Rainbows But It's Not Doom And Gloom Either.” The competition judges praised the passion, positivity and exceptional eloquence of Sam’s writing. As part of the winner's package, the article was officially published on The Day’s global Student Voices platform on 15th June, alongside the national announcement of the competition winners. Sam’s award-winning article takes critical aim at the modern media landscape, arguing that mainstream platforms rely on sensationalism and fear to drive reader engagement. The piece contrasts historical anxieties with today's relentless news cycle, which feeds on global catastrophes. While acknowledging real hardships, Sam warns that constant access to bleak updates is mentally exhausting and traps younger generations in a false sense of hopelessness.  Far from advocating for purposeful ignorance, Sam urges readers to stay informed while remembering how far humanity has progressed. The essay highlights that we are living in a golden age of technology and medical achievement.  Ultimately, the award-winning piece serves as a powerful reminder of humanity's inherent resilience and proven ability to thrive in the face of adversity. As Sam beautifully concludes, "It's important to keep positive, because whatever happens, humans always adapt and never lose hope." The entire St Clement Danes community extends its warmest congratulations to Sam on this incredible achievement