Mental health consultancy Eleos Group has announced a new partnership with Great Schools Trust, the organisation behind King’s Bolton and six other academies across the North West, to embed tailored mental health strategies and support structures throughout its network.
The initiative is part of the trust’s long-term plan to create mentally healthy environments for both students and staff by co-producing policies that are specific to each school’s needs.
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As well as focusing on pupil wellbeing, the partnership is also intended to ease pressure on teachers through training and guidance.
Warrington-based Eleos Group, which has experience working in high-pressure sectors including policing, law and education, will now apply its clinical expertise to all seven schools in the trust, including King’s Bolton.
The consultancy will work directly with governors, leadership teams, staff, students, parents and carers to create sustainable, inclusive mental health policies.
The partnership makes Great Schools Trust one of the first academy trusts in the UK to take such a hands-on approach to mental health provision, built from the ground up and tailored to each school’s individual culture.
Shane Ierston, CEO of Great Schools Trust, said: “Eleos Group’s values are at the heart of what Great Schools Trust do, which is why this partnership is so valuable. While mental health has recently become a more prominent focus for government policy in schools, GST has been well ahead of the curve.
“From the outset, we made a strategic decision to collaborate with leading medical professionals to ensure our approach was both research-led and practically robust.
“That’s where our partnership with Eleos Group has been a game-changer. Dr Claire and the team bring unmatched expertise in adolescent mental health, and we’re incredibly fortunate to work with such highly respected leaders in the field.
“Their insight will help us shape a model that doesn’t just tick boxes, but genuinely supports young people and staff in sustaining well-being, resilience and character.
“At GST, our commitment is to give every child the best chance to succeed, and that includes their mental and emotional health. This partnership embodies our core value of professionalism and exemplifies our belief in self-awareness and endeavour – equipping schools to lead confidently in this vital area.”
Dr Claire Bullen-Foster, CEO of Eleos Group, added: “This partnership focuses on building something that lasts… embedding a meaningful, whole-school approach to mental health for children, with support that connects their peers, their school, and their home life.”
The mental health strategies will be rolled out across all seven academies in the Trust, including secondary, primary and specialist schools.