Healthy Schools

The Welsh Network of Healthy Schools Scheme was launched in 1999 to encourage the development of local healthy school schemes within a national framework. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises the WNHSS as playing a key role in promoting the health of children and young people, and the scheme has been rolled out across Wales since 2000. 

Maesgwyn School spent a number of years working with Cwm Taff Health Board to become recognised as a Healthy School, and in 2016 our efforts were rewarded when we received the National Quality Award for Healthy Schools. 

Each local scheme is responsible for supporting the development of health promoting schools within their area. The WNHSS describes a health promoting school as one which:

'actively promotes, protects and embeds the physical, mental and social health and well-being of its community through positive action'. This can be achieved through policy, strategic planning, staff development, curriculum, ethos, physical environment and community relations.

Within the scheme, there are seven different health topics that schools need to address. These include:

Food and Fitness, Mental and Emotional Health and Well Being, Personal Development and 

Relationships, Substance Use and Misuse, Environment, Safety and Hygiene.

Since that time we have continued to develop as a healthy school and have become part of the local PLC and we meet regularly with other schools in the scheme to share good practice, teaching resources and to provide support. 

Local Coordinators also ensure local networking, and maintain a system of monitoring and accreditation of the schools in their scheme. 

Local Schemes are accredited by the Welsh Government. All schools in Wales are engaged with the scheme and following on from successful engagement an independent assessment for the National Quality Award takes place once a school has reached Phase 6 of the local healthy school scheme, after 8-9 years of active involvement. 

This independently assessed National Quality Award was introduced in 2009. As mentioned previously, Maesgwyn School holds the NQA and passed the re-verification process on 9th December 2022, and we will maintain NQA status for the next two years.

The school community has benefited from being a Healthy School because the Scheme’s approach addresses the ethos, policies and practices of each school, while also focusing on what happens in the classroom and taking account of the community beyond the school.

It supports schools to enable pupils and staff to take control over aspects of the school environment which influence their health in addition to formally teaching pupils about how to lead healthy lives.

The pupils and members of the school council play a large part in maintaining the NQA and we will continue to work hard as a healthy school.

Mrs Jane Lewis – Healthy Schools Co-ordinator.