Worksop College has been named ‘Independent School of the Year for Pupil Wellbeing’ at the 2025 Independent Schools of the Year Awards, recognising its pioneering approach to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of its community.
The accolade celebrates the College’s ‘Willow Hub Initiative’ – a multifaceted, school-wide wellbeing programme designed to foster the holistic flourishing of pupils, staff, and the wider school community.
Recognising that ad-hoc initiatives were no longer enough to meet the growing demand for mental health support, Worksop College dedicated significant time and resources to create an entirely new system of care – one that integrates early intervention, professional therapeutic support, and proactive wellbeing education.
The Willow Hub, officially launched this academic year, has three central aims:
- To ensure pupils, staff and parents can access professional mental health support with minimal wait times.
- To identify and support individuals in need of early intervention.
- To empower young people with the knowledge and skills to care for themselves and others, both during and beyond their school years.
What makes this programme particularly special – and what captured the attention of the judges – is that it was built by the community, for the community. Pupils, staff, and parents were involved in every stage of the Hub’s development, even volunteering their time to help transform an old school shop into the thriving wellbeing centre that exists today.
“Winning this award is an incredible honour and a testament to the compassion, commitment and collaboration of our entire community,” said Aaron Cawley, the school’s Mental Health Lead at the time of nomination. “The Willow Hub is more than a space – it represents a culture where asking for help is celebrated, not stigmatised.”
Like most schools in the country, the College saw an increase in mental health challenges, particularly around anxiety and depression among younger pupils. In response, Worksop College expanded its in-house mental health team, offering five trainee counselling and psychotherapy placements, allowing pupils to access professional support in an average of just 4.4 days from self-referral.
The impact has been remarkable. External data from STEER, a national wellbeing tracking system, showed a 7.4% increase in student self-referrals.
Headmaster Charles Bailey commented:
“At Worksop College, wellbeing is not an add-on – it’s at the heart of everything we do. This award reflects our belief that when pupils feel safe, supported and valued, they can truly thrive.”
The Willow Hub Initiative continues to grow, with Worksop College committed to leading the way in redefining what mental health support in schools can look like – compassionate, proactive, and community-driven.