Hackney primary school where ‘wellbeing is foundation of learning’ bags mental health award
Daubeney Primary School parent and CEO, Courtney Brown, assistant headteacher Cheryll Gustave and headteacher Gregory Logan at the awards ceremony. Photograph: Paul McKenzie
A Hackney school has been awarded for its exceptional work promoting student wellbeing and mental health.
Staff and pupils at Daubeney Primary School in Clapton took home the Future ED Award for the Mental Health and Wellbeing School of the Year 2025.
The school prides itself on creating a culture where every child is known, valued and supported. It describes itself as a ‘village school’ in the heart of the city, where teachers recognise young people today face increasingly complex challenges to their mental health.
Cheryll Gustave, Daubeney’s assistant headteacher, said: “We are so proud of our pupils and Daubeney family, and the fact that we place mental health at the heart of education.”
Logan (left), Deputy Mayor of Hackney, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble and Brown. Photograph: Paul McKenzie
Staff receive regular training to ensure they are well-equipped to deal with new issues today’s young people may come up against.
Headteacher Gregory Logan says the school’s ‘open-door communication’ ensures no pupil is forgotten.
He added: “Our staff receive ongoing training to recognise and respond to the ever-growing emotional needs of our children, empowering them to create safe, empathetic environments in every classroom.”
Daubeney pupils aged seven to 11 are able to join the junior mental health team, which this year opened ‘Da Café’ – a space open to pupils, parents and staff which aims to foster community, financial literacy and enterprise.
The school also hosts a wellbeing and mental health week every half term, and staff members have mental health and wellbeing targets as part of their annual appraisals.
In October 2023, Ofsted rated Daubeney ‘outstanding’ for personal development. It was rated ‘good’ in all other categories – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management and early years provision – earning it a ‘good’ rating overall.
“Pupils enjoy attending this friendly and welcoming school,” the inspection report said. “Parents and carers say they feel part of a strong community. Staff take great care to get to know families well.”
The report added children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) “achieve well during their time at the school.”
The FutureEd Awards cover a range of categories celebrating policy and culture change in education. Photograph: Daubeney Primary School
The Future ED awards are an annual ceremony celebrating ‘policy and culture change’ within the UK education system.
Awards are given to schools, organisations and individuals which champion excellence in education for Black African and Caribbean heritage communities.
“At the heart of its vibrant community has long championed the belief that wellbeing is the foundation of all learning. Mental health is not an afterthought at Daubeney, it is embedded in every fabric of school life, from nurturing relationships amongst staff and pupils to innovative programmes that enable pupils to reflect while building their resilience,” the Future ED website says of the school.