Student Centre

At Robert May's School we understand the role we play in looking after our young people’s mental health and wellbeing. 

In 2024, we were delighted that the Odiham Education Charity donated money so that we could set up the ‘Student Centre’. This is a dedicated area in the school focused on pastoral care.

Student Centre

The Student Centre is located on the left-hand side of the car park when entering the grounds of Robert May's School, and there are two car park spaces dedicated to dropping off and picking up students.

The Student Centre will be open 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Meet the Team

The team includes Mrs Ellison (Associate Assistant Headteacher KS3 and Mental Health Lead), Mr Holt (Student Support), Mrs Lochman (Home School Link Worker & Student Support), Mrs Davison (ELSA), Mrs McDonald (BACP Registered Counsellor), Mr Quince (Counsellor), Mr Wright (Counsellor), Mrs Garvey (School Office Manager), Mrs Jesse (First Aider), Mrs Davies (First Aider), Mrs Grant (Admin), and Mrs Marshall (Admin).

Student Reception

The Student Reception is a dedicated area for students to go to when they need help. This area now houses the ever growing Lost Property cupboard along with forgotten PE kits and cooking ingredients brought in from home. They can also go to the student reception to call home if they need their lunch accounts topped up or simply just get a timetable printed. Students go to this reception to sign in and out if they are running late or going off site for an appointment. 

First Aid

Our First Aiders are available throughout the school day to attend to emergencies requiring first aid. The First Aid room is open to students during break and lunch times. During lessons if a student feels unwell they will need to be given a permission slip by their class teacher to attend First Aid. The staff in the First Aid room can determine whether they are well enough to return to class or a decision can be made to send the student home. No medication with the exceptions of asthma inhalers, diabetic medication and epipens are permitted to be carried by students in their bags. Any medication that is required during school hours needs to be brought to the Medical Room and this form completed.

Student Support

The Student Support room provides a space for students to access our Student Support team. Students either attend by prior appointment or are able to come to the Student Support base for a short period of time for what we call R and R (Regulate and Return). The aim is always that the student returns to lessons to carry on with their learning. Our student support workers also meet with families and students in a solution focused way to try to ensure that barriers to school or lesson attendance are removed, as we firmly believe that the best place for a young person is to be in lessons with their specialist teachers benefiting from the high quality teaching delivered at RMS. Some students also use this area as a calm space at breaktimes.

Reflection Room

At times, students attend the Reflection Room as part of our restorative behavioural approach. We have high expectations of behaviour at RMS and believe that consequences are important; however, we believe that these consequences do not define a young person and that a period of reflection can help a young person to regulate and make good choices moving forward.

Students who attend the Reflection Room access their learning from this room for a time-limited period of time. Our Behaviour Support Coordinator oversees students in this space and supports students to regulate and reflect. The Headteacher (or a senior member of staff), attends the room each day to hold 1:1 reflection conversations.

ELSA

The school has a trained ELSA who works with individual students on a 1:1 basis over blocks of weeks to support them in the development of their emotional literacy. This enables students to develop coping strategies and talk about difficulties, interact more successfully with others, develop greater self-awareness, manage school in a more positive way and feel better about themselves.

Counselling

The school has a trained counsellor who works with individual students on a 1:1 basis over a block of weeks to support them during a time of crisis or with ongoing mental health concerns. Sometimes the counselling service provides a bridge between a referral to an external agency being made (e.g. CAMHS) and that provision starting.

Canine Assisted Learning

For 2 days a week we work with the Canine Assisted Learning team.  They work with individual students on a weekly basis. This involves trained assistance dogs and animal assisted intervention practitioners, who help to support students with their mental health and wellbeing. 

Quince Counselling

Recognising that some teenagers, particularly some boys, find it harder to engage with more traditional counselling approaches, RMS procures the services of Quince Counselling who offer a tailored service which blends counselling and boxing training. This provides students with a positive outlet for their frustrations and seeks to equip them with the skills to be able to speak about and manage their emotions effectively.