Excerpt of a Case Study from Better schools through health: learning from practice Third European Conference on Health Promoting Schools, held in Vilnius, Lithuania, 15–17 June 2009
Lynne Perry THE WELSH NETWORK OF HEALTHY SCHOOL SCHEMES - NATIONAL QUALITY AWARD pp 28-29
The Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes (WNHSS) was launched in September 1999 to encourage the development of local healthy school schemes within a national framework. The Welsh Assembly Government has provided funding and guidance for local healthy school schemes in all areas of Wales. Currently 1712 schools (91%) are actively involved in the WNHSS. The WNHSS was set up with clearly defined national and local responsibilities. Initial guidance was provided for the first 3 phases (usually one year per phase) and subsequently for beyond phase 3 (usually 2 years per phase). A high percentage of schools are working through the phases and a number have achieved Phase 5. The aim of the new National Quality Award is to develop consistent assessment criteria for Wales to recognise high standards and achievements in promoting and embedding health in schools involved in the scheme for at least 9 years. Schools that have been engaged in the Healthy School Scheme for a minimum of 9 years will be supported by the local coordinators over a 2 year period to gather evidence of the work carried out for the 7 health aspects and their progression during involvement in the Scheme.
When the local coordinator is satisfied that the evidence is in place an assessment will be arranged. The local coordinator will present and discuss the evidence with the external assessor prior to a school visit. The assessment will be carried out by external assessors who will be appointed by the Welsh Assembly Government. A training programme has been developed for local coordinators and newly appointed assessors. The National Quality Award will replace the Welsh Healthy School Scheme phase 6 and ensure a consistent quality standard across Wales, the emphasis is on quality and schools that achieve this award will be exemplary. Work towards the award has only recently begun involving a small number of schools
including further work by the pilot schools. To date the feedback has been positive with an expectation that the first schools will complete the process this year.