Abbeygate Sixth Form College presented with award in recognition of significant mental health research contribution from Oxford University study
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Abbeygate Sixth Form College - part of Eastern Education Group - has been awarded the Research Partner of the Year Award by BrainWaves.
The study is a research and education collaboration between the University of Oxford, Swansea University, and The Day. The research aims to better understand and support adolescent mental health in response to the growing number of young people experiencing mental health concerns.
The award was presented at the college by Julian Turner, Director of Education at BrainWaves.
Students from the college have been participating in the research programme for three years; the award is recognition of the substantial contributions the college has made to the research.
Each year Personal Progress Tutors from the college support students in filling out a survey for the research.
An annual report is sent back to the college detailing findings which enable more educated decisions to be made around the support offered to improve student wellbeing. These findings are helping to transform how schools, researchers, and young people access data, tools, and learning to improve mental health.
Cathy Durrant, our Head of Pastoral Support said: "We are thrilled to have been awarded their Research Partner of the Year. It is great to be recognised for the contribution that we have made towards this valuable piece of research and also the work that goes into supporting our students to complete the surveys. The benefit to our students is that it gets them to think about topics such as their physical and mental health, the amount of sleep that they get, their social media habits and other such topics."
Professor Sarah Bauermeister, Director of Brain Waves and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, said: “Without your support, the vital research we do simply would not be possible. Since joining us in January 2024, the engagement from your students has been phenomenal. You and your students have helped shape Brain Waves into what it is today, and I'm thrilled that you are our new Research Partner of the Year. Congratulations, it is very much deserved.”
