Deputy Mayor Visits St Mary Magdalene to Celebrate Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Work

We were absolutely thrilled to welcome the Deputy Mayor, Joanne McCartney, to St Mary Magdalene this week as part of the wider London initiative to strengthen mental health support for children and young people. Representatives from Anna Freud and the Mayor’s Office also joined us - and they were genuinely impressed by the confidence, maturity and warmth shown by our pupils.

During the visit, the Deputy Mayor met with our Co‑Executive Headteachers, Co‑Principals, Primary Headteacher, School Mental Health Champions, Secondary students, Mental Health Team and wider leadership team. Our pupils spoke proudly about their roles, the projects they lead, and the positive difference they are making across our school community.

One of the standout moments came when a pupil asked the Deputy Mayor, “How is your mental health?” She responded openly, sharing that she goes for walks to calm herself when feeling stressed. It was a powerful and relatable moment - and our children handled the conversation with such confidence and empathy that both visiting representatives commented on how exceptional they were.

The visit also highlighted the strength of our whole‑school approach to wellbeing. Leaders shared how we make mental health visible and accessible across the school - through wellbeing days, parent sessions, peer‑support groups, staff training and daily practices that help pupils manage stress and build resilience.

This visit forms part of a London‑wide effort to develop a model of mental health support that can be shared with schools, government and NHS partners. We are proud to contribute to this important work and excited to champion the wellbeing of all our pupils and staff.

We are incredibly proud of our children and deeply grateful to our families for your continued support. Together, we are building a strong, caring and connected school community - and we’re excited for all that lies ahead.

Mental Health Team