Islington schools gain healthy status
Schools across Camden and Islington were recognised for improving pupils’
health and well-being by gaining healthy school status, at a special ceremony
on Wednesday, December 6.
The event at the London Arts Centre in Islington was to celebrate the
achievement of the 16 schools in Camden and 18 in Islington. The schools have
worked to create a happy, safe and productive learning environment by gaining
the new national healthy school status since it was introduced in September
last year, through schemes like lunch box ‘spot checks’ and an improved
playground.
This means they have reached a national standard in four areas:
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Personal social and health education, including drug education and sex and
relationship education
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Healthy eating
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Physical activity
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Emotional health and well being
They will keep their status until 2009.
All of the schools were awarded certificates for their work and children from
Fitzjohns School in Camden and St Joseph’s Primary School, Islington gave
presentations on what they had done to achieve healthy school status.
At Fitzjohns, which achieved healthy school status in October, the school
council has introduced lunch box ‘spot checks’ and has also raised money for
new bike racks to encourage pupils to cycle to school. The school has also
revamped its playground with a new treehouse and trampoline and introduced a
range of new after school activities including judo and table tennis clubs.
Among the healthy changes at St Joseph’s were the appointment of two pupil
healthy schools officers and the introduction of a tally chart for children
who choose fruit and vegetables at lunch and a trophy for classes who eat the
most. The school is also planning a summertime sun protection campaign, which
will include a poster competition.
To gain the National Healthy Schools Standard a school needs to be audited and
work towards a number of key areas that are identified in an action plan. The
kind of work they need to undertake could include improving school grounds,
offering healthier schools meals, expanding after-school clubs, improving the
classroom teaching of areas related to health or establishing a school council.
The scheme is a partnership between Camden Local Authority, led by Children,
Schools and Families, CEA@Islington, and Camden and Islington Primary Care
Trusts. It was set up as a result of the development of the National Healthy
School Standard, a joint initiative between the Department of Education and
Employment and Department of Health.
For more information, please contact CEA@Islington's Communications Department: