Borough scoops national award for healthy schools

Kath Sanderson, Children, Schools and Families Partnerships Manager, Rochdale, left, and Sue Hackett, Rochdale Healthy Schools Manager.

5 More Image(s) In Gallery

Rochdale borough's healthy schools programme has been recognised as one of the best in the country - and that's official!

The Council, working in partnership with Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust, has been awarded Beacon Status for Healthy Schools - a prestigious national award that recognises clear vision, outstanding achievement and service excellence.

A record number of schools in the borough are part of the national Healthy Schools initiative, which is about creating healthy and happy children and young people who do better in learning and in life.

Councillor Irene Davidson, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families, said: "This award recognises the progress Rochdale has made in making a significant difference to the health and achievement of children and young people.

"Healthy schools is not just about healthy eating, it's about supporting children and young people to develop a healthy and well-rounded lifestyle, keeping them fit, healthy, included and safe."

Wendy Meston, Consultant in Public Health for the PCT, added: "I am delighted with this award.  Developing the healthy schools programme has been a real partnership effort and by working together with the Council, teachers, police, parents and others we are really starting to make a difference to children's lives and to their long-term futures."

Sue Hackett, Healthy Schools Co-ordinator for the Council, said: "Schools in the area are very enthusiastic about this initiative and 81% of them - that's 75 schools - are engaged in the programme.

"Already 46% of local schools - a total of 42 - have achieved the new national Healthy Schools status.

"In addition to changes in eating habits and exercise, children and young people are involved in very varied activities related to health and well-being, including peer massage and looking at issues such as substance misuse and sexual health.

"Groups of secondary school students have also done work on the connections between under-age drinking and teenage pregnancy with a project looking at the pressures on girls and young women to have sex after they have been drinking and the consequences of that."

The Beacon Scheme identifies excellence and innovation in local government. It enables good practice to be shared so that authorities can learn from each other in providing high quality services.

During the next 12 months, Rochdale will be sharing expertise and knowledge with other authorities by hosting open days and learning exchanges.