Success celebrated at healthy school
06 May 2008
When it comes to helping pupils stay healthy the writing is on the wall at Hadfield Infant School – thanks to governor Linda Irving and her husband John.
The pair picked up paintbrushes to decorate the school’s Stroganoff Circus Café with a healthy eating mural and motif.
Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for schools, saw the results of the school’s hard work when he visited to congratulate staff and pupils on achieving a Healthy School Award.
The Mersey Bank Road school was one of more than 30 across Derbyshire which recently gained the award at a presentation at County Hall, Matlock.
To achieve National Healthy Schools Status schools prove their commitment to keeping pupils healthy in various ways.
Hadfield pupils took part in many events including a fun and fitness week, and activities based around the characters painted on the café’s mural, Cyril the Seal and Protein the Strongman.
Councillor Alan Charles said: “It was fantastic to meet the pupils and see the enthusiasm they have for living healthily by eating well and staying active.
“We’re working hard at the county council to promote healthy and active lifestyles and this is an excellent example of a school doing everything possible to get children to work on these goals in a way they enjoy.”
The healthy schools awards are organised by the Health Promoting Schools team, a partnership between Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust. It aims to improve long-term health, reduce health inequalities, increase social inclusion and raise achievement for all.
To achieve the healthy school status a school has to meet 40 targets in the areas of healthy eating, physical activity and emotional health and well-being.
Headteacher Christine Taylor said: “It’s a wonderful way to help infants understand that they need a bit of everything to make a balanced meal.
“John is a professional signwriter and the couple both worked incredibly hard to create a wonderful mural to help the children get excited about the healthy lifestyles work we do.”
SEAL OF APPROVAL: The café mural characters and healthy eating message are given the thumbs up by (from left) Christine Taylor, John Irving, pupil India Pruett, David Holmes, healthy schools adviser, Councillor Alan Charles and the school’s chair of governors Kath Holtom.
(REF: FW.191.08)
