Whitchurch Primary School has become the first in North Cardiff to achieve Wales-wide recognition for its work to promote health and wellbeing throughout its school community, at the very highest standard.
Assessors for the Welsh Network of the Healthy School Schemes have awarded the Healthy Schools National Quality Award (NQA) for demonstrating excellence in all areas of health and wellbeing, with support from Cardiff Council’s Healthy Schools Team.
The Healthy Schools National Quality award focuses on the importance of pupil participation in core areas of school life, which directly affect the health and wellbeing of children and young people.
The prestigious achievement requires schools to go through a rigorous process spanning at least nine years and recognises the hard work of staff, pupils and their wider school community.
Some of the highlights from the report on Whitchurch Primary School include:
The school has achieved the Gold Award of the Rights Respecting School and uses the Rights of The Child in virtually all aspects of school life.
Communication and parental engagement is an outstanding key feature with Healthy Schools news and information conveyed to all members of the school community.
● The school environment is very welcoming and attractive, providing a stimulating, creative and safe learning environment.
● The school grounds have been developed to provide many outdoor learning opportunities including growing beds, a pond, greenhouse, and outdoor classroom areas.
● Pupil voice at the school is one of the strongest inspectors have seen, embodying an ethos of ownership and partnership. Pupils are clear about their respective roles, and each group completes an Impact and Action review each year to understand the outcomes of their work.
● The protection and promotion of good mental health and wellbeing of everyone connected with the school is evident.
● The senior team and teachers have a positive attitude to change and new ideas, so the school is constantly developing and is ready to adapt to needs as they arise, and to local issues.
Headteacher at the school, Ann Griffin said: “The award recognises the emphasis and importance Whitchurch Primary School places on developing healthy, emotionally resilient, well-informed young people. Pupil Voice was recognised as a strength of the school.”
Cardiff Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for education, Sarah Merry said: “There is a great deal of good working taking place at Whitchurch Primary School to make sure that health and wellbeing is an integral part of school life.”
Whitchurch Primary School becomes the 15th school in Cardiff, but the first in the north of the city, to achieve the NQA.
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