Sunderland schools come together to celebrate Healthy Schools Award achievements

Friday 8 July 2022

Children and teachers from nine schools across Sunderland came together on Wednesday (6 July) to celebrate the Sunderland Healthy Schools Award, an initiative that supports schools in the city to establish a positive, healthy school environment.

The Sunderland Healthy Schools Award was developed by a local multi-agency group of health, education and social care professionals, and recognises the dedication that Sunderland nurseries and schools are making to the health and wellbeing of their pupils and staff.

Organised by Together for Children in partnership with Sunderland City Council, the award ceremony was hosted at Ryhope Junior School and celebrated 13 schools who had achieved emerald and bronze award status, the first two levels of the Sunderland Health Schools Award.

Schools who received their Emerald Awards were East Herrington Primary School, Eppleton Academy Primary, Gillas Lane Primary Academy, New Penshaw Academy, Oxclose Primary Academy, Ryhope Infant School Academy and Trinity Academy New Bridge.

Schools who received their Bronze Awards were Burnside Academy, Fatfield Academy, Plains Farm Academy, Richard Avenue Primary School, Plains Farm Academy and Willow Wood Community Primary School.

A group of pupils from each school were invited to represent their school and accept their award on behalf of their peers and teachers. Simon Marshall, Director of Education Services at Together for Children, presented young people with their awards.

Sam Ashworth, Teacher at New Penshaw Academy, who received their Emerald Award, said: "We're working towards our Sunderland Healthy Schools Award to improve the knowledge, awareness and importance of being healthy and having a healthy lifestyle.

Young people from Fatfield Academy, who accepted their school's Bronze Award on behalf of their peers, told us: "We enjoyed making fact files in ICT about our anti-bullying team and we also have a new listening lounge."

The Sunderland Healthy Schools Award is made up of five Charter Marks: Active, Anti-Bulling, Food and Nutrition, Mental Health, and Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) and is open to any Sunderland nursery, primary school and secondary school.

Karen Davison, Director of Early Help at Together for Children, said: "We are proud to be hosting the very first Sunderland Healthy Schools Award ceremony in recognition of the commitment that schools in our city are taking to their pupils, staff and wider communities. The award focuses on key areas of health and wellbeing that contribute to a happy and healthy school environment, which supports young people to thrive both inside and outside of the classroom."

Councillor Kelly Chequer, Sunderland City Council's Portfolio Holder for Healthy City, added: "A positive, healthy school environment benefits both pupils and staff, while a focus on healthy eating and nutrition contributes to children and young people maximizing their potential at school. It's fantastic to celebrate these schools who have demonstrated commitment to healthy eating and achieved Healthy Schools Awards."

The Sunderland Healthy Schools Award ceremony followed a celebration that took place on earlier in the week to award 28 schools who'd achieved their bronze, silver or gold awards in the Mental Health Charter Mark (MHCM).

The MHCM was initially established following discussions amongst young people and members of Sunderland Youth Council, an advisory network of young people aged 11+ who work with elected members and decision makers across the city to make sure that young people's voices are heard.

In 2017, young people in the city chose to prioritise mental health as an area of focus for Sunderland, which led to the formation of Sunderland's Thriving and Coping Group, a multi-agency partnership group who worked together to create the Mental Health Charter Mark and continue to oversee moderation visits and awards.

Find out about the Sunderland Healthy Schools Award and the five Charter Marks. 

Schools awarded Mental Health Charter Mark (MHCM)

Bronze MHCM Award:

Auton Residential Children's Home Sunderland, Bernard Gilpin Primary School, Biddick Primary School, Broadway Junior School, Burnside Academy, Castle View Enterprise Academy, Easington Lane Primary School, East Herrington Primary Academy, Fatfield Academy, Hill View Infant Academy, Newbottle Primary Academy, Oxclose Community Academy, Plains Farm Academy, Portland Academy, Ryhope Junior School, Southmoor Academy, St Aiden's Catholic Academy and Willow Wood Community Primary School.

Silver MHCM Award:

Diamond Hall Infant Academy, George Washington Primary School, Mill Hill Nursery School, Sandhill View Academy and St Anne' RC Primary School.

Gold MHCM Award:

Houghton Community Nursery School, Hylton Red House Nursery School, Pennywell Early Years Centre, Southwick Community Primary School, St Mary's Catholic Primary School.