RAMSEY Grammar School has become the first secondary school in the Isle of Man to gain the Marjorie Boxall Quality Mark Award for its nurture group.

Nurture groups are small, homely classes that offer a safe, secure base within schools with a specific curriculum aimed at students with social and emotional difficulties who are struggling to cope with a full-time mainstream curriculum.

The emphasis is on building strong relationships with students to build trust and self worth that promotes learning.

The award comes via the Nurture Group Network UK.

To gain the award nurture teams submit evidence of the quality of their provision over a significant period of time and they are externally assessed.

The nurture group at Ramsey Grammar School is part of the Flexible Learning Area which supports students with a variety of special educational needs.

Approximately 40 students access the nurture group at some point over the week, mostly for a double session per week.

Headteacher David Trace said: "This is further UK-wide recognition that Ramsey Grammar School provides leading education across a range of subjects.

"We are delighted with this award which bears tribute to the excellent staff team in the Flexible Learning Area at Ramsey Grammar School."

The award is named after Marjorie Boxall - an educational psychologist who worked in inner London schools in the 1970s.

She founded the principles of nurture groups as a response to the difficulties presented by the children she worked with.

Pictured are students from Years 7 and 8 with, from left, Mrs Cathy Holland, subject leader, Mrs Carrie Corkill, Mr John Taylor and Ms Zoe Chestnut