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St Brigid’s Primary School, Mountfield
 

Awards and Achievements

 
 
 
 
 
 

We are delighted to announce that St. Brigid's Primary School has been awarded with PATHS Model School status in the academic year 2022/23.

The PATHS programme has been implemented at a whole school level and it is very clear to see the positive impact it is having on the holistic development of our children. It truly is a cutting-edge programme and an important part of our PDMU Curriculum. This award is a huge testament to the hard work and dedication shown by our staff, pupils, parents and partnerships. We are also extremely grateful to our PATHS coach for her mentoring, dedication and professionalism over the past number of years.

What is PATHS?

The PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) is an international state-of-the-art programme designed for schools to facilitate the development of self-control, emotional awareness and interpersonal problem-solving skills.

The teaching of PATHS is a structured whole school approach covering the following units every year from P1 to P7

  • Emotional understanding
  • Self-control
  • Social problem solving
  • Peer relations and self-esteem. Educational research indicates that following the PATHS programme has a very positive impact on teaching children effective strategies to cope with stressful situations, building resilience, raising academic outcomes and making pupils happier.

PATHS helps children with…

  • Self-esteem, self-confidence and self-control
  • Frustration & anger management
  • Attention and concentration
  • Thinking before they act out in anger
  • Emotional understanding
  • Expressing their feelings in a positive way
  • Understanding that all feelings are okay, but some behaviours are not ok
  • Preparing for change (e.g. moving to high school)

SUSTRANS Active Travel School Awards

Over the last number of years our school has been working hard to increase the number of children who regularly walk, cycle or scoot to school. It has had numerous benefits including:

  • increased physical activity levels resulting in improved health and wellbeing
  • reduced congestion and pollution around schools 
  • improved academic performance and attendance rates
  • increased road safety awareness
  • increased confidence, self-esteem, and independence for young people.

We are delighted to be recipients of both awards! 

Bronze Award

Awarded to a school that has worked to bring about some organisational, cultural and behavioural changes which help the school community choose to travel in more active and sustainable ways.

Silver Award

Awarded to a school that continues to demonstrate its commitment to promoting active and sustainable travel, but with much of the energy and resources coming from within the school and its community.

Investors in Mental Health 

The Investors in Mental Health Award is an initiative developed by AWARE – the depression charity for Northern Ireland. The aim is to provide recognition to schools, organisations and community groups who are making a significant contribution to the promotion of positive mental health. We are delighted to have been recognised for our endeavors as a school to promote good mental health with a wide range of strategies and programmes such as Nurture Room, PawsB, Mindfulness and Relax Kidz. 

Green Flag Award

In St Brigid's we are absolutely passionate about looking after our environment.  We want all pupils to have increased environmental awareness and a strong desire to work together with pride, to maintain and improve out world both locally and globally. We have successfully been awarded our second green flag. There has been a huge amount of work done by all pupils and staff. This has been wonderfully led by the Eco-Council and the Eco School’s Coordinator, Miss Garry. We have undertaken a wide range of Eco activities to improve our environment. Three of our main objectives have been increasing biodiversity, litter-picking and active travel.

 

 

 
 
PATHS

Awards and Achievements

We are proud to share that our school has successfully achieved the Autism Impact Award, recognising our sustained commitment to developing an inclusive, autism‑friendly learning environment for all pupils.

Our Journey Towards the Award

Achieving the Autism Impact Award was the result of a whole‑school programme of work embedded across everyday teaching and learning. Staff worked collaboratively to strengthen understanding of autism and to ensure consistent, inclusive practice across classrooms, playgrounds and shared spaces. This involved ongoing professional learning, reflective practice, and meaningful engagement with pupils and families.

Impact on Children

Our approach has had a positive and lasting impact on pupils by:

  • Creating predictable, structured and supportive learning environments
  • Supporting emotional regulation, communication and independence
  • Increasing pupil confidence, engagement and sense of belonging
  • Ensuring individual strengths, needs and voices are recognised and valued

These practices benefit all learners, not only those with identified additional needs.

Impact on Teachers and Classroom Assistants

Teachers and classroom assistants have developed:

  • Increased confidence and shared understanding of autism‑inclusive strategies
  • Consistent use of visual supports, sensory‑aware approaches and clear routines
  • More effective collaboration and reflection as a professional team
  • Greater confidence in adapting teaching to meet diverse needs

This shared approach ensures consistency and continuity for pupils throughout the school day.

Inclusive Strategies Embedded in Everyday Practice

Autism‑friendly practice is now fully embedded within our school, including:

  • Clear routines and visual timetables
  • Sensory‑aware classrooms and calm regulation spaces
  • Adapted communication approaches
  • Focus on emotional wellbeing and positive behaviour support
  • Respectful, strengths‑based language and expectations

These strategies are part of our daily teaching, not an add‑on, supporting inclusion, wellbeing and high expectations for every child.

Looking Ahead

Achieving the Autism Impact Award is not an endpoint. We remain committed to continuous improvement, ensuring inclusion, understanding and empathy are central to all aspects of school life.