The puppy bringing joy to a school

The school bell rings and new starter Florrie bounds down the corridors excitedly greeting pupils and teachers alike. But Florrie is neither. She is a nine-week-old puppy who has been introduced at a Lincolnshire secondary school to help tackle growing concerns about teenagers' mental health.

"She's been absolutely amazing," says Amanda Cook as she strokes the fluffy head of Florrie, a border collie and bearded collie cross.

The tiny puppy, barely bigger than a football, is gently squeaking from inside a large cage where she is joined by a half-chewed fizzy drinks bottle and an array of dog toys.

"She's been here for a week so far, and I have to say even though we planned everything out I was a bit nervous that first day," says Amanda.

Alongside her duties as a maths teacher and assistant head, Amanda has become chief puppy wrangler too. Florrie is officially her pet, but unlike another dog she owns, this one is a daily fixture in the school.

"We just thought that if she was in school from day one she'd get used to the environment better than introducing an older dog," she says.

"I have another dog at home that I thought about introducing but she's quite nervous when she comes into school. Whereas for Florrie, from day one it was her home."

Although Florrie has now been welcomed with open paws, it has not been a speedy process. It has taken four years to arrange the right dog, with letters being sent to parents and guardians asking about allergies, phobias and other concerns.

And then there are the practicalities of dealing with a puppy in a school.

"Luckily, I've got lots of help because obviously she's very popular," Amanda tells me, adding that the students have been "incredible" with the puppy.

But Florrie is not just a fun ball of fluff, she has got a job to do: helping young people navigate an increasingly complex world.

"There are lots of pressures on young people at this particular point in time, and I include in that mobile phones and digital technology," says headteacher John McHenry.

Alongside the distractions of technology, John says the school is still dealing with the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted education for young people at key times in their lives.

"Mental health has been something massively impacted by COVID," he says.

"Obviously the services are oversubscribed," says Amanda. "We have a counsellor in school who works with our students, just having the dog there as well as an early intervention will be really, really useful."

John says the school is always looking "to explore different ways of supporting students" and "helping them overcome problems".

"Florrie is the most recent addition, if you like, in our toolbox," he adds.

But the idea of a mental health support dogs is not new. In the 19th Century, The Illustrated London news, founded by Boston MP Herbert Ingram, reported on animals in Bethlehem Hospital (better known as Bedlam) as having a soothing effect on "unhappy persons" living there.

Birmingham University's Dr Alison Broad, suggests in her doctoral thesis there is a "growing body of research which indicates the significant impact that animals can play in supporting well-being and mental health."

It is something teachers have already discovered since Florrie arrived.

"Her behaviour is impeccable! I wish we could say the same about all new joiners but certainly she has been absolutely brilliant, and the reality is she's already having a positive impact," says John.

"We're seeing students who've engaged with Florrie who are dysregulated, but who are then finding themselves much calmer and more capable of coping."

He believes it is something his staff "will see more evidence of in the weeks ahead".

On our travels round the school, multiple students and teachers stop to say hello to their new canine companion.

Student Martynas, whose shoelaces provided endless entertainment for Florrie, said the puppy would be "a very good outlet" for those needing to get something off their chest.

Lukas, another student, agrees and adds: "I used to be afraid of dogs, but she's the cutest thing ever."

Sixth form student Dawid called the idea a "really good initiative."

"I'm hoping it will help with mental health issues, especially people that need that extra support," he says.

"Exam stress, things like that," chips in Charlotte, a fellow sixth former. "Even making relationships with teachers, relationships with students, finding friendships that can be quite difficult. And she is very cute!"

After greeting students, chasing a football around, "attacking" shoelaces and tights, and exploring parts of the school she has never seen before, the pitter-patter of puppy paws slows down.

Florrie's work as a mental health support dog technically has not yet begun, and it will not until she is fully trained up.

I leave her to settle down for a well-earned nap before the real work starts in the coming weeks.

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