The Healthy Futures Network is a collaborative project funded by Health Education England, North (HEE, North) in partnership with the University of Chester (UOC) and the Network schools. The irrefutable evidence-based link between health and wellbeing, education attainment and life-chances provides the rationale for the Project. School has long been identified as a ‘setting’ for improving health and well-being of children and young people.
Project Aim:-To explore how a ‘network’ of schools and the NHS can work together to promote health and wellbeing of children and young people and where possible to link this with improving employability and raising aspirations and awareness of the potential career education opportunities that the NHS can offer.
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Key findings |
Impact |
Data and quotes from teachers |
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Collaboration and partnership is valued as a framework for sharing evidence-based practice and as a motivator for change. Co-ordination and Leadership role within the Network was essential in maintaining momentum. |
All participants involved in the Healthy Futures Network reported the network offered invaluable opportunities for sharing evidenced based practice and experiences.
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FG with teachers and BOS “Refreshing to come to network for different insight into adolescents’ mental health, especially when teachers are stressing the importance of exams to students - power of the network is it gives valuable information to take back to influence school SLT’’ Teacher 1 |
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Individual specific school health & wellbeing information is a motivating factor for change |
Senior Leadership, teachers and pupils found the Schools Education Unit Exeter :- Fit Succeed (F2S) Survey is a motivating factor for improving health and wellbeing and change in their schools.
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Data from the F2S Survey ( 4,000 + Young People). ‘’ This has led to student wellbeing and a bonus is also staff wellbeing awareness. Looking after the whole organisation in terms of wellbeing. Significant changes made towards student and staff wellbeing’’ Teacher 2 |
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Pupil involvement at every stage from information gathering, intervention planning, implementation and evaluation is critical e.g. ‘Nothing about us without us’.
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Students who attended the HF conference reported raised awareness of the wider implications of emotional health and wellbeing in schools, and it had helped stimulate their interest in the Healthy Futures Network. |
Data from Action plans, case studies , and conference participation and evaluation ‘’Fascinating to see student faces when staff was speaking to them about the issues they could be facing’’ Teacher 3 |
The project outputs/ impact
- A report mapping and integrating health and well-being opportunities and implementation to the delivery of schools curriculum
- Mapping of internal pupil leadership skill programmes to NHS values and expected behaviours of its workforce
- Case study description and production of resources tested for use in schools
- Process evaluation project report and recommendations for extension and recommendations for escalation and sustainability.
- Solution Focused (Case studies demonstrating innovative approaches to problems
Project Unique Selling Points (Involve / invest / innovate)
- Increased Stakeholder ownership (Whole school approach including pupils)
- Targeted investment from CCG’s, LA and third sector (evidence-based interventions, resources etc