ITE Partnership Mental Health Award Accreditation

July 2025

GLF Teacher Training (GLFTT) has presented evidence which demonstrates they are embedding across all eight competencies of The ITE Mental Health Award and in some competencies they are embracing. They have used the framework and content of the Award to good effect to develop their mental health and wellbeing strategies, structures, and practices. 

The Partnership includes almost 60 schools across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Wokingham, Wandsworth, Croydon, Surrey and West Sussex led by GLF Schools which is a MAT of 42 primary and secondary schools.

GLFTT – which has never lost a school from the Partnership - prides itself on the personalised support it offers trainees (currently aged from 22-65) and it is clearly very responsive to their varied needs with 100% of trainees since 2023 achieving their aims. In many cases this has also resulted in them securing roles as ECTs at their placement school. Trainees clearly value the support offered and in the few cases requiring e.g. moving schools or deferral they have been fully supported.Their Partnership Agreement has been written with wellbeing as a real focus and clearly outlines the 
different responsibilities of the various stakeholders in supporting both trainee and staff MH&WB and 
workload. 

All GLFTT members of staff are qualified Mental Health First Aiders. This has proved extremely helpful following the sad loss of three GLF staff over recent months and additional resilience coaching sessions and 1:1 mental health check-ins with the trainees affected by these events have been implemented. Trainee representatives meet regularly with the People Co-ordinator to discuss workload and wellbeing and feedback is sought following each Friday training session.
Processes for trainees have been streamlined so that they only need to interact with one online learning platform (Mosaic) in-order-to complete weekly tasks. They are shown smart ways of managing marking whilst being respectful to the individual school policies around feedback and marking.Trainees are split into smaller phase-specific groups to encourage sharing of more nuanced information and practice.

Trainees with an identified need work with the team to complete a Specific Adjustments Form. Where mental health concerns arise unexpectedly, or were undisclosed, prompt action is taken and support effectively provided.

Individual successes are celebrated where appropriate e.g. via the regular “Trainee Spotlight” which ensures each trainee is celebrated throughout the year.

An excellent trainee handbook and a wellbeing booklet have been created by GLF and these support the professional studies programme which trainees undertake one day a week. An annual Wellbeing Conference takes place each November with input from external MH&WB experts. There are clear systems of support for all stakeholders with the Mentor Training programme being rigorous in its 20 hours of training. Mentors recognise when to signpost issues and are skilled at doing this so the right support can be offered. A Lead Mentor is also in post.

All staff new to the partnership undertake training in MH&WB via the National College and receive an induction which discusses maintaining the positive mental health of themselves and the trainees they are working with. Teachers also have release time to make space for their professional support of all trainees.The employee assistance programme, Care First, provides 1:1 counselling and other relevant support either in person or online as required.

GLF Schools regularly seek developmental feedback from their partners and feedback from trainees is gathered weekly and half-termly. Professional Tutors have a half-termly online forum where they can share best practice, ask questions and raise any concerns.

I have no hesitation in concurring with the self-assessment made and recommend that GLF Teacher Training is awarded the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in The ITE Partnership Mental Health Award at Bronze level.

Josie Whiteley
Coach
The ITE Partnership Mental Health Award
July 2025