Working in Partnership

At King James I Academy students have been working with Stamp It Out ( SIO Partnership Hub). Coordinated by Investing in Children, the SIO Partnership worked to educate the public in all areas relating to mental health conditions, in order to reduce stigma and discrimination towards people who experience mental health problems and to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of poor mental health. In September 2025, Stamp it Out ceased to be, however at King James our students have continued to take a leading role in carrying out this important work.

Student Led Mental Health Focus Group

• The students in the group have undertaken an Introduction to Challenging Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination training. They received a certificate and are now qualified Anti-Stigma Ambassadors. Our more experienced students are able to train our younger students in this qualification allowing them to develop important skills in public speaking, presenting information and supporting others. 
• Our Students have been involved in quality checking mental health resources for other students in different schools in County Durham. They have contributed to research carried out by Northumbria University relating to stigma, self-stigma and barriers to accessing support. The information was used to create a Theory of Change which is one of the legacies of Stamp It Out. King James have been acknowledged as a contributing partner for this work.
• Students from the Focus Group have presented assemblies to other students to raise awareness and promote a whole school philosophy to positive mental health. They meet regularly to share ideas and plan events.
• Our Student Focus Group organise events in school to promote Time to Talk Day and World Mental Health Day. These are fun and popular events and are well attended by other students. Activities have included a penalty shoot out, games and activities about how to use positive mental health strategies, making loom band friendship bracelets and bake sales to raise funds for mental health charities. They recently, planned an event for staff giving each teacher a positive thought for the day on arrival to work.
• At King James we are about to launch a new project called the Bounce Together Student Wellbeing Ambassador Programme (SWAP). This will be a major mental health focus for the 2025/2026 academic year.