Where are we now?

Health promoting schools are a central feature of the Scottish Executive's social inclusion policy and a key component of future health improvement as identified in Towards a Healthier Scotland (1999).

Every school in Scotland has been set the target of becoming health promoting by 2007. This target is central to Integrated (formerly New) Community Schools, which are a key Scottish Executive initiative to promote social inclusion and raise attainment.

Consistency of provision

Many schools across Scotland are already working towards becoming health promoting but there is a need to develop consistency of provision across Scotland. The Scottish Health Promoting Schools Unit (SHPSU) has been established by the Scottish Executive to assist in the development of health promoting schools within the broader framework of policy initiatives on health improvement.

The role of SHPSU is to champion, facilitate and support the development of health promoting schools across Scotland. It will endeavour to develop and provide a coherent view of policy and practice in relation to health promoting schools.

Partnership

To achieve these goals, SHPSU works in partnership with all key stakeholders at a local and national level. Although it is not resourced to provide direct funding to schools, local authorities or NHS boards, it is keen to discuss with these partners how it can help them develop health promoting schools.

SHPSU is a partnership involving:

• Scottish Executive Education and Health Departments
• Learning and Teaching Scotland
• NHS Health Scotland
• COSLA. 

Its work is directed by a Partners Policy and Strategy Group.