What is a Health Promoting Establishment?

"A health promoting establishment is one in which all members of the school community work together to provide pupils with integrated and positive experiences and structures, which promote and protect their health. This includes both the formal and the informal curriculum in health, the creation of a safe and healthy school environment, the provision of appropriate health services and the involvement of the family and wider community in efforts to promote health."

The World Health Organisation, 1995.

Scottish Executive Target

SHPSU provides national leadership, co-ordination and support for all partners to develop health promoting schools, in order to meet the target of all schools in Scotland being health promoting by December 2007. The unit also supports the mainstreaming of the health promoting schools agenda into education and health policy and practice.

In order to do this the unit works closely with key partners including the Health and Education Departments of The Scottish Executive, NHS Health Scotland, Learning and Teaching Scotland, COSLA, HM Inspectorate of Education and Sport Scotland.

The Health Promoting Schools website is run by SHPSU.

This exciting online resource offers practical guidance and information to help schools become health promoting. There are dedicated sections for practitioners, family and community members and interactive areas for primary and secondary school pupils.

Being Well - Doing Well

Being Well - Doing Well has been produced to establish a working definition of health promoting schools.

Local health promoting school steering groups

Each local Authority Area has a health promoting schools steering group. These local steering groups give strategic direction to health promoting school developments within Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling.
For more information please contact the Education team.