Buckinghamshire Public Health is delighted to offer all state-funded primary, secondary and special schools access to an online self-evaluation toolkit, leading to Buckinghamshire Healthy Schools status. This funded offer is available from June 2022 until March 2025. On completion of the award, schools will receive a certificate and validation of Buckinghamshire Healthy Schools status for 3 years.

Buckinghamshire Healthy Schools is a whole school, whole systems approach to health and well-being. The Healthy Schools Award and the support provided by the Buckinghamshire Public Health Team will enable schools to evaluate and strengthen good practices and improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people. A Healthy Schools approach provides a cohesive, collaborative, and holistic way for schools to review and develop best practices in health education.

The Healthy Schools Award is part of the ongoing work of the Buckinghamshire Public Health team to support high-quality PSHE, Personal Development, statutory Health, and Relationships/ RSE education and to improve health outcomes for children and young people. The local approach includes providing advice, guidance, signposting to high-quality resources and services, CPD, collaborative working, sharing good practices, support with compliance with statutory duties, and funding targeted initiatives for children and young people. Please see the tabs on the Buckinghamshire Healthy Schools webpage for further guidance on Healthy Eating, Mental Health, Physical Activity, Smoking, Substance Misuse, and Sexual Health.

Schools can achieve Buckinghamshire Healthy School Status by completing the national and internationally used online self-evaluation toolkit  School Health Check.

There are four core aspects

• PSHE
• Healthy eating
• Physical activity
• Social, Emotional, and Mental Health

Each core aspect has 10 key strands based on a whole school approach model. Each key strand has descriptors, and developmental next step planning built into the self-evaluation framework.

The online school health check is simple; schools have up to three years to register, complete, and gain healthy school status. A training session on how to use the online tool, and ongoing support from the Buckinghamshire public health PSHE lead to review, develop, and enhance current provision will be available.

To register for the School Health Check:

1. Go to Healthy Schools and click ‘Register’.
2. In the ‘Local Authority’ section enter Buckinghamshire Council.
3. Find your school on the ‘choose school’ drop-down menu
4. Complete the required registration details, and for all billing details please enter ‘Buckinghamshire Council ‘. There is no cost to the school.
5. You will then receive an email confirming your registration and will be provided with access to your account.

Once registered the Buckinghamshire Public Health PSHE lead will be in touch to support your school to achieve healthy school status.

What is a healthy school?

• A school that places health and wellbeing at the heart of school life
• A school that promotes positive health for all, teaching pupils how to look after their own physical, social, emotional, and mental health, and supporting staff and families to have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to maintain a healthy lifestyle
• A school that recognises the relationship between health and wellbeing and academic achievement
• A school that champions health and wellbeing and is committed to ongoing improvement and development
• A school where the whole school community works together to improve everyone’s health, well-being, and happiness, now and in the future