This feature originally appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of In Trinity, which focused on our key value of ‘Care’. For new and current students, the nurses offer a friendly face and open door policy, and provide support with every aspect of wellbeing.
In the heart of Trinity School, Croydon lies a space where students know they will always be seen, heard and cared for. This isn’t a classroom or an office – it’s the medical and wellbeing room, where Nurse Di Clancy and Nurse Claire Jackson provide a welcoming refuge for students navigating both physical ailments and emotional struggles.
Their role extends far beyond treating minor injuries; they are an essential part of the school’s pastoral care, offering non-judgmental support, a listening ear and a reassuring presence to every student.
School can be overwhelming: academic pressure, friendship struggles or worries from home all take their toll. “We tend to be the first port of call,” explains Claire. “It’s a safe space where students know they can chat, they are seen, they are heard and they realise they really matter.”
Stress and anxiety often manifest physically – headaches, stomach aches, fatigue. “When they’re coming in frequently, you start to wonder if there’s emotional concern behind it,” says Claire. “So, we ask, ‘Is there anything worrying you?’ as much as ‘where does it hurt?’, and that’s often when the real conversation begins.”
One of the most important aspects of the nurses’ role is accessibility. “We’re not timetabled like counselling sessions,” Claire explains. “If students are worried, they don’t have to wait. They can just come.”
Sometimes, students simply need a quiet space – somewhere to colour, listen to music, read The Beano or enjoy a hot chocolate. “They don’t always need to talk,” says Claire. “Sometimes, they just need somewhere to be.”
The medical room is often the first stop, but it is part of a much wider pastoral network at Trinity School, Croydon.
Every Head of Year is trained in Mental Health First Aid, alongside many other staff members. The school’s Mental Health Lead, Ms Nzingha Wiltshire, provides one-to-one support and runs initiatives such as Trinity Mental Health Week, encouraging open conversations and practical steps to support student wellbeing.
There is also a dedicated school counsellor, Rosheen De Sousa, for students needing ongoing support. Students can self-refer or be referred by staff or families. “We’re trained in mental first aid, but we’re not counsellors,” Claire explains. “We guide students, help them build coping strategies and make sure they feel seen.”
Claire often uses the ‘stress bucket’ exercise: students draw a bucket, fill it with stressors and identify ‘taps’ to release pressure – like sport, music or time with friends. “The key to mental health is always having room in your bucket.”
Younger students may not always know about the support available, and Sixth Form mentors and Prefects play a key role in guiding them towards the medical room. “It’s lovely to see our older students looking out for the younger ones,” says Claire. “That word-of-mouth support is so important.”
Staff work closely together to ensure joined-up care. “If a student is coming in often, or something’s going on, we always keep Heads of Year and tutors in the loop,” Claire explains. “We’re discreet, but it means more eyes are looking out for that student.”
A simple reminder – look beyond the behaviour – can help identify when a student is struggling. “A change in mood or attitude is often a sign something deeper is going on,” Claire adds.
Claire also trains Sixth Formers and staff as Mental Health First Aiders. “It’s about creating a culture where students feel safe to speak up; whether to a nurse, a teacher or a mentor.”
The library plays its part too. “Our Librarian, Lou, is brilliant,” Claire says. “If we suggest a book that might help a student, she orders it in. She also creates powerful displays during Mental Health Awareness Week, which help reduce stigma.” Weekly initiatives like Mindful Mondays and Wellbeing Wednesdays encourage quiet reflection in a calm space.
The impact of this care is lasting. Some students stay in touch long after they leave. “We’ve had students come back to say thank you,” Claire smiles. “One said, ‘You kept me in school. I couldn’t have coped without your support.’ Another, who had struggled with anxiety, is now training to be a mental health nurse, he told us his dream is to take over my job one day!”
The medical room is more than a place for plasters; it’s a sanctuary, a cornerstone of student wellbeing. Through warmth, kindness and care, Nurse Jackson and Nurse Clancy offer students the safety and space they need to be heard.
As Claire puts it, “They might not come every day, but they know – if it all gets too much – there’s somewhere they can go.”
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