Maidenhead & Windsor

It’s a “double first” for two Maidenhead Royal Borough secondary schools as pupils demonstrate a healthy attitude towards their development – and have the awards to prove it!

Pupils at the borough’s two all-girls’ schools – Newlands in Maidenhead and Windsor Girls’ in Windsor – are the first secondary schools in the borough to notch up success in the prestigious Healthy Schools Award.

The successful duo join a bumper crop of 28 primary, infant, junior, first and one middle school, (St Edward’s), who have already clinched the coveted award which encourages the involvement of the whole Maidenhead school community – staff, pupils, parents, governors and school nurses - in pupils’ physical and emotional development.

The two schools demonstrated their commitment to a healthy lifestyle in a variety of ways including;

· running very active student councils who have worked hard for healthy, affordable school meals and snacks – with a subsequent reduction in high-sugar, high-fat foods and the introduction of pasta and salad bars, soup and tempting sandwich fillings

· offering a school nurse drop-in and counselling service

· promoting initiatives such as HYPE, a programme of peer-led drug education in which older students teach Year 8 and 9 pupils about the risks of drug taking

· taking part in a wide variety of sporting activities and exploring new options including martial arts to encourage girls who have previously been reluctant to participate.

Cllr Cynthia Pitteway, lead member for Maidenhead education, said: “It’s interesting that it is two girls’ senior schools which have gained this award. I hope this will be a challenge to the boys to match the commitment of the girls and encourage their schools to bid for Healthy Schools status.

“Achieving this award is an excellent way of demonstrating that they recognise the importance of investing in health education and encouraging each and every child to feel good about themselves. So come on, let’s see more of our senior schools jump on the Healthy Schools bandwagon.”

Beverley Wigmore, Healthy Schools Co-ordinator at Windsor Girls’ School, said: “We are really pleased and proud to have gained National Healthy School status and have enjoyed making improvements to our school.

“It has also allowed us to focus on what needs to be improved, especially some of the points our girls have raised, which we will work to implement in the near future.”

Tracey Briggs, headteacher at Maidenhead Newlands Girls’ School, said: “I am delighted that we have achieved the Healthy Schools Award; everyone has worked really hard to achieve this success. We look forward to receiving our certificate and plaque.”

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead