Key initiatives
Health promoting schools encourage us to consider the whole child within the context of a whole school - community interface. Therefore it is difficult to identify a health or education focused initiative that would not impact upon the health and well-being of children and their families, or staff in the school or the wider community. There are, however, a number of key initiatives in Scotland to which the health promoting school is closely linked.
Integrated Community Schools
The Scottish Executive has set the target that all schools in Scotland will become Integrated Community Schools and provide integrated services for pupils and their families by 2007.
As in health promoting schools, an underlying principle of Integrated Community Schools is developing and sustaining effective partnerships. Working together in the Integrated Community School, teachers, social workers, community education workers, health professionals and others are able to ensure that a joint approach is taken to deliver the best possible service.
The defining characteristics of Integrated Community Schools are outlined in the prospectus for the pilot programme for New Community Schools, as follows:
- a focus on all the needs of all pupils
- engagement with families
- engagement with the wider community
- integrated provision of school education, informal as well as formal education, social work and health education and promotion services
- integrated management
- arrangements for the delivery of these services according to a set of integrated objectives and measurable outcomes
- commitment and leadership
- multi-disciplinary training and staff development.
To be an effective Integrated Community School, schools must also be health promoting. It is important, therefore, not to view these as separate and competing agendas but instead to consider health promoting school development as an essential part of the Integrated Community Schools arena.
The full prospectus for New Community Schools can be viewed on the Scottish Executive website.
The Sum of Its Parts?: The Development of Integrated Community Schools in Scotland (HMIE, 2004) is a report on the first six years of community schools development. It can be viewed on the HM Inspectorate of Education website.
National Priorities in Education
The National Priorities in Education form the basis for the Framework for Improvement in Scotland. They were introduced as part of 
PDF file: The Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000 (170KB).
Measures of performance for the National Priorities in Education are set out by Ministers of the Scottish Executive. Local authority education departments are required to set their own local improvement objectives in relation to each priority and with reference to the measures of performance.
The National Priorities in Education are defined under the following headings:
- achievement and attainment
- framework for learning
- inclusion and equality
- values and citizenship
- learning for life.
These headings have been defined in the following terms:
- to raise standards of educational attainment for all in schools, especially in the core skills of literacy and numeracy, and to achieve better levels in national measures of achievement, including examination results
- to support and develop the skills of teachers, and the self discipline of pupils and to enhance school environments so that they are conducive to teaching and learning
- to promote equality and help every pupil to benefit from education, with particular regard paid to pupils with disabilities and special educational needs, and to Gaelic and other lesser used languages
- to work with parents to teach pupils respect for self and one another, and their interdependence with other members of their neighbourhood and society and to teach them the duties and responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society
- to equip pupils with the foundation skills, attitudes and expectations necessary to prosper in a changing society and to encourage creativity and ambition.
Although the link between the National Priorities and health promoting schools may not be immediately apparent, several of the priorities would be addressed through developing as a health promoting school. The following list highlights some of the links.
- There is a wealth of evidence linking positive health and well-being to effective learning and teaching. If children and staff are well, we know that this will have a direct effect on their ability to engage, work and learn.
- Effective health promoting schools create a positive environment within which to work and learn, they ensure that the physical and structural environment is conducive to health and well-being. Additionally they recognise the importance of developing and maintaining a positive school ethos whereby the social and emotional environment of the school is influenced.
- Participation and involvement are key principals of effective health promoting schools, endorsing the importance and value placed on engagement, citizenship and democratic practice.
- Health promoting schools operate within a climate of inclusion, developments are child and family centred and focus on addressing their needs in relation to health and well-being.
- Health promoting schools facilitate home, school and community partnerships.
- Health promoting schools equip pupils, staff, parents and members of the wider community with the knowledge, understanding and skills to make choices in relation to their health and encourage individuals to take action to improve their well-being.
There is more information on the National Priorities in Education website.
National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being
The National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-Being of Scotland's population has four key aims over the next three years:
- to raise awareness and promote mental health and well-being
- to eliminate stigma and discrimination
- to prevent suicide
- to promote and support recovery.
The programme recognises the importance of good mental, emotional and social health, which is vital for overall health and well-being and the quality of life. The key aims of the programme should be addressed locally by the key local Community Planning Partners.
Health promoting schools can contribute to achieving the aims of the National Programme and are doing so in many ways. The National Programme identifies six priority areas, listed below, which need to be addressed. These are complementary to the holistic nature of the health promoting school.
Early years
Many early year establishments are proactively developing as health promoting schools, either individually or in partnership with their local school or cluster. There are many obvious benefits to this development, including early intervention, transition and close home - school partnerships.
Children and young people
As we know, the school provides an excellent opportunity to work closely with children and young people and to positively influence their attitudes, lifestyle and behaviours. Developing as a health promoting school encourages schools to work more closely in partnership with individuals and organisations to ensure that, wherever possible, interventions and programmes are developed beyond the school and influence the child or young person at home or in the community.
Employment and working life
Due to the holistic nature of the health promoting school, staff health and well-being is of equal importance. Many schools and councils are developing and implementing workplace policies and creating positive working environments for all staff in the school. Developing as a health promoting school provides an opportunity to directly respond to the health and well-being needs of all staff as part of a whole-school approach.
Later life
Several health promoting schools are affecting the lives of older people by developing cross-generational work involving pupils and older people. Some have offered the school as a community facility or a venue for social and recreational purposes.
Community
Many health promoting schools are actively engaging with members of the local community to implement a range of priorities and programmes - some of which relate to improving mental and emotional well-being.
Public services
Working collectively with local partners provides an opportunity for the schools to directly influence, and be influenced by, movements towards improving public services. Several schools and councils have realigned services to suit the needs of the local population in direct response to health promoting school developments.
Information about the National Programme can be found on WellScotland. The national anti-stigma campaign can be found on the See Me website and information about the national strategy for the prevention of suicide Choose Life can be found on the Scottish Executive website.
Hungry for Success
The Expert Panel on School Meals was convened by the Scottish Executive to find ways of improving the nutritional quality and uptake of school meals, while also improving the overall dining experience in schools.
The final report of the panel Hungry for Success (Scottish Executive, 2003) sets out The Scottish Nutrient Standards for School Lunches. It recommends that all primary and special schools should adopt them by December 2004, and that all secondary schools should adopt them by December 2006.
Work to achieve the targets set out in Hungry for Success is ongoing and there is more information in our Eating for Health section.
As stated in Hungry for Success, 'food in schools' should be considered within the context of wider health promoting school development. Many schools and councils are in the process of developing whole-school approaches to addressing issues relating to food, drink and nutrition.
Let's Make Scotland More Active
The National Physical Activity Task Force was established in 2001 in response to the publication of the White Paper Towards a Healthier Scotland (Scottish Office, 1999).
The remit of the task force is to investigate and recommend ways:
- to raise levels of regular physical activity
- to use physical activity to reduce health inequalities
- of ensuring that the relevance of physical activity to raising and maintaining the quality of life of all age groups is fully recognised
- to promote physical activity as enjoyable and accessible
- to increase uptake in sustainable forms of physical activity in line with commitments in Towards a Healthier Scotland and Sport 21, which is the national strategy for sport in Scotland.
The Physical Activity Task Force is also required to:
- identify the scope for joint working between relevant partners, including local authorities, health bodies and community planning partners
- advise on how to better use existing services, facilities and programmes and where future investment should happen
- recommend national targets for physical activity.
Part of the work of the Physical Activity Task Force is the Active Schools programme, which is introducing Active School Managers and Co-ordinators in councils and schools across Scotland to encourage more participation in formal and informal sports, active travel to school and active play.
Work is already underway in many areas of Scotland to develop whole-school approaches to increasing physical activity in the context of health promoting schools.
Let's Make Scotland More Active is available to read online on the Scottish Executive website.
Eco Schools
Eco Schools has been adopted by the Scottish Executive Education Department as a performance measure for values and citizenship – one of the National Priorities in Education.
As part of the School Improvement Framework local authorities have been asked to report on, 'the number/percentage of primary and secondary schools within their area that are participating in the Eco Schools Award or similar accredited environmental awards.'
Eco Schools is an international programme introduced to Scotland in 1995 to encourage young people to become involved in the environment and sustainable development. It is supported in Scotland by three full time staff, a Scottish video and handbook and a schools grant programme.
There are nearly 2000 Scottish schools currently registered and involved in Eco Schools, with more than 100 schools already achieving the prestigious Green Flag award status.
Many of the objectives and suggested courses of action within Eco Schools complement and contribute to health promoting school development, therefore it is important not view these as separate and competing agendas. Both frameworks are flexible and encourage adaptation to take forward local priorities.
Our section on Eco Schools contains more information and you can also visit the Eco Schools website.
Healthy Living
Healthy Living is the Scottish Executive campaign aimed at improving Scotland's poor health record by raising the profile of healthy life choices and providing advice and support for people to make those choices.
The key objectives of Healthy Living are to improve the diet of people in Scotland to include more fruit and vegetables, achieve a better overall balance and reduce the amount of fatty foods eaten, such as chips, pastries and pies.
Physical activity is also targeted in the Healthy Living campaign with the aim of encouraging the population to be more active – not necessarily through formal sports, but by introducing small changes to their lifestyle, such as walking to work or taking stairs instead of the lift.
Several health promoting schools are using the Healthy Living campaign messages to introduce or reinforce lifestyle-focused work being taken forward in the school.
More information is on the Healthy Living website.
