Public Health White Paper
The coalition govenrnment has recently published its public health white paper.
Download the entire document as a pdf by clicking here.
Of particular relevance to Healthy Schools are the following quotes:
- Good schools will be active promoters of health in childhood and adolescence, because healthy children with high self-esteem learn and behave better at school. Within the current non-statutory personal, social and health education (PSHE) framework, schools will provide age-appropriate teaching on relationships and sexual health, substance misuse, diet, physical activity and some mental health issues. The Department for Education (DfE) will conduct an internal review to determine how they can support schools to improve the quality of all PSHE teaching, including giving teachers the flexibility to use their judgement about how best to deliver PSHE education. Schools will also have a role in tackling these issues as part of their pastoral role, linking to local agencies and community groups where appropriate.
- The Department for Education will maintain existing standards for school food.
- We expect excellent health and pastoral support to continue to be a hallmark of good schools.
- Good schools understand well the connections between pupils’ physical and mental health, their safety, and their educational attainment.
- The Healthy Schools, Healthy Further Education and Healthy Universities programmes will continue to be developed by their respective sectors, as voluntary programmes, collaborating where appropriate and exploring partnership working with business and voluntary bodies.