Mayor awards 19 Enfield schools for teaching pupils healthy living skills

Nineteen schools in Enfield are to receive awards for encouraging their pupils to lead healthier and happier lifestyles, as part of the Mayor’s Healthy Schools London (HSL) programme.

HSL encourages schools to work with children from aged four to when they leave, teaching them about the importance of healthy eating and physical exercise. It also aims to build pupils’ self-confidence, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to lead healthy, happy lives.

London’s Deputy Mayor Victoria Borwick, who helped launch the HSL programme in Enfield, will be presenting representatives from each of the schools with a Bronze Award during a ceremony at Worcesters Primary on 12 February. The Deputy Mayor is visiting the school to see they ways in which they promote healthy living and provide a supportive environment for both the pupils and staff at their schools. She will also have the opportunity to speak to some of the pupils about what they have learnt.  

Dr Shahed Ahmad, Director of Public Health for Enfield Council, will introduce the Awards and Ayfer Orhan, Councillor for Ponders End and Cabinet Member for Schools & Children's Services, will also be in attendance. The event will also include a performance by Face Front Inclusive Theatre about how violence affects the emotional wellbeing of children.

Deputy Mayor of London Victoria Borwick said: "Congratulations to all the schools across Enfield who have taken part in this programme and succeeded in achieving the Bronze Award. It’s great to think that thousands of children across the borough now understand where food comes from and why it’s important that they eat healthily and do regular exercise. I hope their success will encourage more schools in the area to sign up.”  

Worcesters’ Head Teacher Karen Jaeggi said: “It is a privilege to be hosting this occasion at Worcesters. Healthy schools are places where children learn to understand the benefits of leading a healthy life. What we teach and promote now will form the foundation for generations to make healthy choices.

“All those receiving awards for all 19 schools have shown just how much they are prepared to adopt a healthy approach. Good health and making healthy choices give children a head start in learning and growing so this recognition from the Mayor of London’s office is a great cause for celebration.”

Cllr Ayfer Orhan said: “I am delighted that 19 Enfield schools are now recognised with a bronze award for their efforts in becoming ‘Healthy Schools’.

“Healthy Schools London promotes the positive work that schools do in influencing the choices and decisions that keep children safe, well-informed and build confidence. It includes: safe travel; walking buses; cooking; eating fresh healthy food; anti-bullying; listening to pupils; regular exercise and being positive.

“We want all young children to have the best start in life making the choices to achieve their potential and life chances.”

The Deputy Mayor will be at Worcesters Primary School, Goats Lane, Enfield, from 2.30pm on Wednesday 12th February. The Awards ceremony will run from 4.30 – 5.30pm. 

Journalists wishing to attend should email [email protected] by 2pm Tuesday 11th February.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1.      The schools receiving Bronze HSL Awards are:

Aylands School

Brettenham Primary School

Chesterfield School

Eldon Infants

Enfield County School

Firs Farm Primary

Galliard Primary school

Garfield Primary

George Spicer Primary School

Hazelbury Infant School

Oakthorpe Primary School

St Paul's CE Primary School

The Raglan Schools

Waverley School

West Lea Special School

Wilbury Primary School

Winchmore School

Wolfson Hillel

Worcesters Primary School

2.      Healthy Schools London is one of several mayoral backed initiatives and programmes aimed at tackling obesity and improving health for people of all ages in London. These include:

• Getting more Londoners cycling, including one billion pounds recently announced to boost cycling in the capital, including an east-west 'Crossrail for the bike', a new network of 'quietways' and works to improve safety at key junctions;
• The Sporting Legacy programme has resulted in £40 million being invested to upgrade local facilities and increase opportunities for Londoners across the capital to participate in sport and physical activity;
• The Takeaways Toolkit, which deals provides a framework for dealing with the proliferation of fast food shops;
• Public realm improvements large and small, from the Queen Elizabeth Park to pocket parks around the city, offering green spaces for formal and informal activity from walking to cycling to organised sport.

3.      Healthy Schools London (www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/health/healthy-schools-london/awards/) will use a whole school approach to improve health and wellbeing, increase access to healthy food throughout the school day, provide opportunities to be more physically active, and aims to reduce childhood obesity. Healthy Schools London will provide awards for schools to recognise work that they are doing around health and wellbeing and childhood obesity linked to five key themes:

• Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE);
• Healthy Eating;
• Physical Activity;
• Emotional health and wellbeing;
• School environment.

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