Mangotsfield School has received two national awards recognising its work with families and its commitment to wellbeing: the Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA) and the Wellbeing Award for Schools (WAS). Both were awarded last academic year following rigorous verification processes, and both drew on the school's Ofsted inspection in June 2026, which found that leaders have built trusted relationships with parents and the wider community.

Stronger links with families

The LPPA recognises schools that excel in engaging families in their children's education. It was granted after a verification visit in July 2026, during which the assessor reviewed a detailed portfolio of evidence and spoke with staff, parents and students.

Among the initiatives highlighted was the Community Hub, which families can access all year round and which includes a food bank and a pre-loved uniform scheme. The assessor also praised the school's 'Take 5' initiative, which encourages staff to make more positive contact with families, and its efforts to reach parents who cannot attend parents' evenings by holding information sessions at different times. Other strengths included a redeveloped school website, regular newsletters, and strong support for students at key transition points, particularly from Year 6 into Year 7 and from Year 11 into post-16 education.

James Gilpin, the school's LPPA Award Lead, said:

The biggest impact of the award has been the shift in perception across the school. Staff are more understanding and proactive of the importance of being in touch with parents in a positive way.

Wellbeing at the heart of the school

The Wellbeing Award for Schools, which runs for three years, recognises schools that place the mental health and wellbeing of staff and students at the heart of their culture and practice. Verifiers examined evidence from across the school community, including students, staff, parents and governors, before confirming that Mangotsfield had met the award's exacting standards.

The assessment highlighted a strong pastoral offer, a dedicated wellbeing hub for students, and a programme of staff support including training, surveys and team-building activities. Verifiers praised the school's “genuine sense of belonging” and noted that pupils described Mangotsfield as “a caring community” where they feel “happy, safe and cared for”, an assessment echoed by Ofsted.

Central to the award was the work of the school's change team, who consulted staff, students and parents to build a wellbeing strategy. This included a student-led mental health and wellbeing fayre and peer listener schemes, alongside the practical support offered to families through the Community Hub.

Gareth John, Assistant Headteacher and the school's Wellbeing Award Lead, said:

Wellbeing has always mattered to us at Mangotsfield, but this process gave us the framework and rigour to make sure we're focusing on the right things in the right way. Seeing that reflected in the feedback from staff, students and parents has been really rewarding, and we're already looking at how we build on it.

Looking ahead

A new wellbeing staff member joined the school this September to work alongside Mr John. Plans for the year ahead include expanding staff training, developing supervision for pastoral staff, and creating more opportunities for parents to get involved through wellbeing workshops and forums.

Headteacher Mrs Hetty Blackmore said:

I'm extremely proud of what these two awards represent. Working closely with families and making wellbeing part of everything we do have been significant pieces of strategy for us, reflected in our recent Ofsted report, and they have brought the school, our students and the wider community closer together. This reflects years of dedicated work by our staff, students and families, and it's the beginning of our journey, not the end of it.