This week, King’s has acknowledged Mental Health Awareness Week, popularised by the Mental Health Foundation.

Every pupil has received an anti-worry, anti-stress self-help booklet on anti-worry and anti-anxiety to help them recognise symptoms and have a tool kit if they need one. Having breaks filled with laughter are an antidote to the pressure of exams; it is impossible to laugh and worry at the same time. Balancing hard work and productivity with fun and friendship is the key. 

Events during the week have been voluntary and organised by the pupils for the pupils and have included a drop everything and dance half an hour, a flash mob in the dining hall, relaxing with mindful colouring and a 1000 piece dot to dot, having fun with friends over a Bingo night. The boys even entertained us mid-Bingo with their live band and costumes. Having a special curry night with a sauce that had been brewing for 4 days was fun, although it was still not spicy enough for a few.

The staff have been very involved and made a real effort – we had an extended tutor period when they organised fun for their tutor groups – activities ranged from a barbecue with drinks cooling in the River Brue, a skipping rope challenge, a walk to the local art gallery and gardens, frisbee, tag rugby and walks up to the Dovecote, to name but a few.

Ben said ‘The walk to the Mill on the Brue with my Housemaster and tutor was very special and the coffee was good. It took me out of the exhausting circle of revision and gave me a break for an hour’.

To recognise the Mental Health Foundation theme of Body Image for 2019, there are pop-up book stalls around the School, with a selection of books focused on body positivity which are available for the pupils to buy and parents have been encouraged to read the same book alongside their children. The Lower Sixth volunteered to speak to the 3^rd and 4^th Form to raise awareness of the need to be sensitive when talking to each other about our bodies, counteracting the advertising industry’s stereotype ‘beauty’. The girls wanted to highlight the point that our bodies are important for what they are and what they can do, rather than how they look. They also talked about the impact of criticising others for the way they look.

The highlight of the week were 12 local dogs who visited on Friday afternoon: some belong to the pupils, some came from the Somerset and Dorset Animal Rescue Centre and some are from the local community in Bruton. The dogs included a Great Dane puppy and a Bull Dog from the rescue centre, and a lovely Newfoundland who lives with the owners of The Chapel, a restaurant in Bruton High Street and several shy Spaniels and Labradors. The Bulldog, 'Frankie' is always a hit with the boys and he will do anything for a dog biscuit. In contrast, we had 3 Dachshunds who were very playful and tried to keep up with the larger dogs. It has been wonderful for us that the community has been involved in our afternoon. There were so many happy faces during the hour the dogs were with us, both the pupils and dogs clearly had a great time.

Alison Grant - Deputy Head