Is the Thrive Approach at the heart of your school or setting? Applying for Thrive Ambassador School status is simple.
Schools can show how Thrive helps children's emotional and social growth in five ways. These are:
Autumn term application window
1st September - 30th November
Spring term application window
1st January - 28/29th February
Summer term application window
1st April - 30th June
Successful schools will be recognised with an exclusive logo and a certificate to display and celebrate their achievements. They could also be included in Thrive case studies and press releases. The application and certification process is free.
The School of Excellence award is the highest level of achievement in the Thrive Ambassador Schools programme. It is awarded to schools and settings that have achieved Ambassador School status in all five areas listed above and is a benchmark of all-round excellence for schools that have embedded the Thrive Approach.
Below is a selection of case studies from some of our Schools of Excellence.
18th September 2024
Now a Thrive School of Excellence, Red Oak Primary School has seen attendance rates consistently rise above the national average, a significant reduction in exclusions, and improved academic and social outcomes for its children and young people.
22nd July 2024
Dovecote School, in Somerset, opened its doors in September 2022. In just two years, the school has been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, and recognised as a Thrive School of Excellence for its commitment to young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
11th July 2024
Many of the young people at On Track Barnstaple have experienced unsuccessful school placements and struggle to see a future for themselves. However, On Track’s mission is to ensure every pupil has the opportunity to succeed and gain the skills they need to progress to the next phase of their lives. With the help of Thrive, On Track has grown into a calm, caring school where all pupils feel safe, valued and empowered to be themselves.
19th June 2024
Looking for a solution to tackle disruptive classroom behaviour, Sutton Park started using Thrive in 2016. Since introducing the Approach, staff have been able to identify and support pupils struggling socially and emotionally, resulting in a significant reduction in behavioural incidents. Not only has the school been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, Sutton Park has also been recognised for its positive impact on pupils, and on the wider community, by being named a Thrive School of Excellence.
16th April 2024
Sheep Dip introduced Thrive in 2014 after noticing that a number of children were struggling to manage their emotions. This was preventing some children from accessing learning and staff were constantly having to firefight behaviour, with little lasting impact.
2nd April 2024
On Track Wisbech is an independent school providing specialist education for pupils aged 11-16. As each learner has different and sometimes complex needs, On Track introduced Thrive to help staff better understand pupils’ behaviour and how best to support them so they can flourish in life and learning.
12th March 2024
Masefield introduced Thrive in 2021 after grappling with academic achievement, low-level disruptive behaviour, and an increasing number of children struggling socially and emotionally. Faced with long waiting lists for external services and a lack of knowledge around emotional wellbeing among staff, Head of School, Andy Done, decided to explore the benefits of Thrive.
7th November 2023
Rose Lane Primary School has held a celebration of mental health which was attended by pupils, staff, governors and senior local authority staff to mark its achievement in becoming a Thrive School of Excellence.
7th September 2023
A specialist education service which works with the most vulnerable children and young people in Essex and Suffolk has been named a School of Excellence for the role it plays in supporting the mental health of its pupils.
25th July 2023
St Wilfrid’s Academy, part of Delta Academies Trust, has held a celebration of mental wellbeing which was attended by pupils, teachers and local councillors to mark its achievement in becoming a Thrive School of Excellence.
11th July 2023
Ysgol Pen-y-Bryn has held a celebration of mental health which was attended by the Lord Mayor of Swansea Cllr Graham Thomas, Mike Hedges MS for Swansea East and senior local authority members to mark its achievement in becoming a Thrive School of Excellence.
6th July 2023
Read how Thomas Arnold Primary School, in Dagenham, have seen behaviour and attainment improve - while staff costs have fallen in relation to coping with disrupted lessons and problems with behaviour.
26th June 2023
Wessex Lodge School has been named a Thrive School of Excellence for mental health.
19th June 2023
Lainesmead Primary School and Nursery has held a celebration of mental wellbeing which was attended by children, senior local authority staff and councillors as well as South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland to mark its achievement in becoming a Thrive® School of Excellence.
13th June 2023
A celebration of mental wellbeing has been held at an inspirational Northampton special school to mark it becoming a Thrive School of Excellence.
23rd May 2023
A celebration of mental wellbeing has been held at an inspirational Worcestershire setting to mark its achievement in becoming a Thrive School of Excellence.
30th March 2023
Croydon-based Meridian High School, which is part of the GLF Schools Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), has held a celebration event after being named a Thrive School of Excellence for mental wellbeing.
3rd January 2023
Rothesay Nursery School, in Bedfordshire, has become the first in the UK to be named an Ambassador School for mental health and wellbeing.
10th November 2022
Hagley Primary School has been named as a School of Excellence and praised by Ofsted for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils.
11th October 2022
Voyage Learning Campus has been named as a School of Excellence and praised by Ofsted for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order to build resilience and help prevent mental health issues.
5th July 2022
A Cornish primary school which was failing when its headteacher first took up his post has been named as a Thrive School of Excellence for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order to help prevent mental health issues.
2nd December 2021
A specialist setting has become the first in Kent to be named a Thrive School of Excellence for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order to help prevent mental health i...
26th July 2021
A Cardiff primary school has been named as the first Thrive School of Excellence in the city for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order to support their mental health an...
11th February 2021
Gulval School named as a School of Excellence for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils
5th February 2021
A South Wales primary school has been named as the first Thrive School of Excellence in the UK for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order to prevent mental health issues...
12th October 2020
Thomas Arnold Primary School, based in Dagenham, has been named as an Ambassador School with Excellence in Leadership after going through a rigorous assessment process by Thrive, which trains teachers...
1st October 2020
Hunters Hall Primary School, based in Dagenham, has been named as an Ambassador School with Excellence in the Environment after going through a rigorous assessment process by Thrive®, which trains te...
Schools and settings can apply to become a 'Thrive Ambassador School' in one or more of the following five areas: Leadership, Right-time, Reparative, Relationship and Environment. Here are some of our amazing Thrive Ambassador Schools.
16th November 2023
When Heartwood CE VC Primary and Nursery School became a Thrive Ambassador School with Excellence in Environment, assessors commented that the school had wowed them with their approach to creating a nurturing, calming place for children to learn. Read on to find out Heartwood's top tips.
19th September 2023
Leah Roberts, Family, Inclusion and Wellbeing Coordinator at Dovecote School, in Somerset, explains the steps they took to effectively embed Thrive into a brand new setting.
24th July 2023
Dovecote School, based at Shapwick, near Bridgwater, which has been open for less than a year, has been judged as Outstanding by Ofsted and won two awards for its focus on mental wellbeing.
2nd March 2023
Read how the Thrive Approach has helped this London school to occupy a unique place at the heart of its community
3rd January 2023
Rothesay Nursery School, in Bedfordshire, has become the first in the UK to be named an Ambassador School for mental health and wellbeing.
15th December 2022
Read how the Thrive Approach has helped this nursery to be praised by Ofsted for its calm environment
12th December 2022
In this 2 minute video case study, Ruth Minhall, Executive Head of Tuition Extra, explains how embedding Thrive has helped it to remove barriers to students' learning, resulting in a 95% pass rate for GCSEs
15th November 2022
A Thrive Licensed Practitioner explains how a whole school approach to mental health is helping pupils to manage the impact of the pandemic at her London primary school
10th November 2022
Hagley Primary School has been named as a School of Excellence and praised by Ofsted for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils.
13th October 2022
Bilsthorpe Flying High Academy has been recognised as an Ambassador School by Thrive for its support of pupils' emotional health and wellbeing.
11th October 2022
Voyage Learning Campus has been named as a School of Excellence and praised by Ofsted for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order to build resilience and help prevent mental health issues.
26th May 2022
The Elland Academy has been named as a Thrive Ambassador School with three areas of expertise for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils. The school has seen reduced exclusions and increased attendance as a result.
22nd November 2021
A Powys primary school has been named as a Thrive® Ambassador School with two areas of expertise for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils, helping to prevent mental healt...
11th October 2021
An Andover school has been named as a Thrive Ambassador School for a second time, highlighting another area of expertise in the role it plays supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order t...
7th October 2021
A North Somerset school has been named as a Thrive Ambassador School for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order to support their social and emotional development Voy...
11th August 2021
A Romford primary school has been named as a Thrive Ambassador School with a second area of expertise for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils, helping to prevent m...
2nd August 2021
A Worcester special school has been named as a Thrive Ambassador School for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order to prevent mental health issues. Regency High...
20th July 2021
A North Somerset primary school has been named as a Thrive Ambassador School for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order to prevent mental health issues. St And...
18th June 2021
A Lowestoft primary school has been named as a Thrive Ambassador School with two areas of expertise for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order to prevent mental health...
15th June 2021
Kaizen Primary School has been named as the first Thrive Ambassador School in Newham for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils in order to prevent mental health issues. The...
15th June 2021
Surrey primary school wins awards for its focus on pupils' mental wellbeing A school in Caterham, Surrey, has been named as a thrive ambassador school with two areas of expertise for the role it play...
27th May 2021
A Worcester primary school has been named as a Thrive Ambassador School with four areas of expertise for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils, helping to prevent ment...
22nd March 2021
A Rhondda Cynon Taf primary school has been named as a Thrive Ambassador School with four areas of expertise for the role it plays in supporting the wellbeing of its pupils, helping to
9th March 2021
Cardiff Primary School wins double award for its focus on pupils' mental wellbeing Thrive's Ambassador Schools scheme has been launched as a way of recognising excellence in the way schools use Thr...