Schools across North Yorkshire are celebrating success this week in improving the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff.
Fifty-one schools are part of a virtual celebration online, because of Covid-19 restrictions, from Thursday, 12 November, after gaining awards through the Healthy Schools programme. The celebration will be at www.healthyschoolsnorthyorks.org
Awarded schools have been invited to participate by posting quotes, photos and videos to share their achievements.
In total, 22 schools achieved a Bronze award, 20 achieved Silver and nine achieved the highest level Gold award. Award winners include primary and secondary schools, as well as nurseries, pupil referral units and special schools. The award scheme aims to improve the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff in four areas: personal, social, health education (PSHE), emotional health and wellbeing; active lifestyles; and food in schools.
Among the winners are Coppice Valley Primary School, Harrogate, and Glasshouses Primary, near Pateley Bridge, which each achieved a Gold award. They worked hard to involve pupils when making improvements around healthy eating and being more active during the school day. Pupils were asked for their ideas, which were acted upon, including shorter queues for lunch, being able to sit near friends and helping to design and build a community allotment.
Airy Hill Primary School near Whitby achieved Silver for PSHE and emotional health and wellbeing. The school has both staff and pupil wellbeing champions to support the whole school community.
North Yorkshire County Councillor Caroline Dickinson, Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Supported Housing, said:
We are very pleased that schools are taking part in the scheme despite the current extra pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic, and well done to all 51 schools for gaining their award.
The Healthy Schools programme is playing a very important part in our work to deliver Young and Yorkshire 2, the North Yorkshire Children and Young People’s Plan. Young and Yorkshire 2 is driven by the vision that our county will be a place of opportunity where all children and young people are happy, healthy and achieving.
Dr Lincoln Sargeant, North Yorkshire’s Director of Public Health, added:
We are delighted to see so many schools across North Yorkshire achieving an award as part of the Healthy Schools Award programme over the past year. The fact that so many schools have continued to work on their Healthy Schools Award applications throughout the Covid-19 pandemic is also a major achievement considering the many pressures that schools have faced lately. We would like to pass on our congratulations to all the schools and to thank them for all their hard work in helping schools to be positive environments that support the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff.
The Healthy Schools scheme is funded through the Public Health grant and has been developed by the County Council’s Energy and Sustainability Traded Service, Children and Young People’s Education and Skills Service and Public Health, with support from the County Council’s Facilities Management Catering and partners, including North Yorkshire Sport and Compass BUZZ. All North Yorkshire County Council schools can join the scheme for free. Private and out-of-county schools can join for an annual charge. For further information, email healthyschools@northyorks.gov.uk or register online at www.healthyschoolsnorthyorks.org
Schools gaining awards are:
Airy Hill primary Silver
Aiskew Leeming Bar C of E primary Bronze
Barlby Bridge primary Silver
Barlow C of E primary Bronze
Barwic Parade Community primary Silver
Bentham Community primary Bronze
Bishop Monkton primary Bronze
Brompton Community primary Silver
Broomfield primary Bronze
Burton Salmon Community primary Bronze
Burnsall C of E VA primary Silver
Carleton Endowed primary Bronze
Cayton primary Bronze
Christ Church C of E VC primary Bronze
Chapel Haddlesley C of E VC primary Bronze
Coppice Valley Community primary Gold
Cracoe & Rylstone C of E VC primary Silver
Dishforth C of E VC primary Bronze
Fountains Earth, Lofthouse C of E primary Silver
Glasshouses Community primary Gold
Grassington C of E VC primary Silver
Helmsley Community primary Bronze
Hovingham C of E VC primary Gold
Huby C of E VC primary Silver
Kettlewell primary Silver
Kirby Hill C of E primary Gold
Kirk Smeaton C of E VC primary Silver
Leyburn Community primary Gold
Longmans Hill Community primary Silver
Marwood C of E VC Infants Gold
Mowbray special school Bronze
Oatlands Community Infants Bronze
Oatlands Community Juniors Bronze
Otley Street Community Nursery Bronze
Pickering Community Juniors Bronze
Ravensworth C of E Bronze
Roecliffe primary Bronze
Ryedale secondary Silver
Scarborough PRS Gold
Seamer and Irton Community primary Silver
Selby Abbey primary Silver
Seton Community primary Silver
St Cuthbert’s C of E primary Silver
St Peter’s Brafferton C of E VA primary Bronze
St Hilda’s Ampleforth C of E VC primary Gold
St Martin’s C of E VA primary Bronze
Sutton on the Forest C of E VC primary Silver
Upper Wharfedale Secondary Silver
Westcliff primary Gold
Western primary Bronze
Whitley & Eggborough Community primary Silver
