Bexhill's healthy schools

A special ceremony was held on Thursday (22 March) to recognise those schools who achieved the accolade and to present them with their awards in the shape of a brand new national plaque.

A little over a year after the launch of this new enhanced National Healthy Schools initiative, 28% of all schools in East Sussex have now achieved the new 'Healthy School' status and the County Council is now expecting to exceed its own and the national target of 55% of schools achieving Healthy School Status by December 2007.

Councillor Rupert Simmons, Lead Cabinet Member for Learning and School Effectiveness, said: "A school has to work very hard to achieve the Healthy School Status. I am extremely proud of everybody's efforts and the fact that the Council is ahead of its own targets for this important initiative. We are committed to promoting healthy lifestyles, particularly among our young people, and this is a very important part of that work."

Representatives from more than 30 of the schools were able to attend to collect their awards in person. Catherine Dooley, Acting Head of ESCC's Inclusive Learning & Development Team, was among those present to congratulate the schools on their achievement.

By 2009, the Government requires that all schools should be working towards the National Healthy School Status, as the key indicator of which schools are meeting the health and well being requirements of the 'Every Child Matters' Children Act.

To qualify, a school must collect and present evidence under all four of the programme's themes: Personal, Social and Health education; Emotional Health and Well Being; Healthy Eating and Physical Activity. And they must also demonstrate how they involved the whole school community in the initiative. The 'School Improvement Service' within East Sussex County Council actively supports schools in this endeavour, led by dedicated Healthy Schools advisers and consultants, who work in close partnership with the two PCTs for East Sussex.

The following is a list of the schools who were able to attend the award ceremony.

Battle and Langton CE Primary School

Catsfield CE Primary School

Chiddingly Primary School

Etchingham CE Primary School

Forest Row CE Primary School

Frant CE Primary School

Glyne Gap School

Guestling-Bradshaw CE Primary School

Hampden Park Infant School

Helenswood School

Laughton Community Primary School

Little Common School

Little Ridge Community Primary School

Meeching Valley Primary School

Meridian Primary School

Motcombe Community School

Netherfield CE Primary School

Ninfield CE Primary School

Peacehaven Infant School

Polegate School

Ringmer Community College

Robsack Wood Community Primary School

Rocks Park Primary School

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

St John's Meads CE Primary School

St Michael's Primary School (Withyham)

St Peter's CE Primary School

St Peter and St Paul CE Primary School

Tideway School a Specialist Technology College Tollgate Community Junior School

About the Healthy Schools Status

The Healthy Schools Programme provides guidance for all schools, establishing the actions that schools need to undertake in order to become a 'Healthy School'. A Healthy School is one that "promotes the health and well-being of its pupils and staff through a well-planned, taught curriculum in a physical and emotional environment that promotes learning and healthy lifestyle choices."

The aims of the National Healthy Schools Programme are:

to support children and young people in developing healthy behaviours; to help to raise pupil achievement; to help to reduce health inequalities; and to help promote social inclusion.

Key ESCC outcomes for its Childrens Services, 2006/07

being healthy

staying safe

enjoying and achieving

making a positive contribution

achieving economic wellbeing