Portree High School Case Study

Portree High School is a six-year secondary school serving the Isle of Skye; its current roll is just under 700 pupils. Its residential hostel currently houses 38 pupils who travel from outlying areas.

How it contributes to education and health policy priorities

One of the targets of the school development plan for 2005–6 was to achieve health promoting school status through the Highland Council/NHS Highland accreditation process. This was achieved in December 2005.

The school demonstrates a holistic approach to health promotion through ongoing activities. It also aims to develop these further and increase participation by:

• encouraging high levels of participation in physical and creative activities through a variety of choices
• the promotion of good citizenship through pupil responsibilities
• support for mental health and well-being through an integrated support structure, involving school staff and partner agencies in the delivery of the curriculum
• healthy eating – raising awareness through the curriculum, including cross-curricular projects, improved choices of snacks (including from vending machines) and lunches
• promoting a positive ethos and good staff/pupil relationships and staff/parent relationships through a shared sense of belonging and care for all.

Physical activities

In addition to core and certificate physical education (PE), the school provides the following.

• A weekly programme of extra-curricular activities catering for all ages (including some activities for staff and primary children). The programme includes badminton, basketball, cross-country, dance, football, hockey, juggling, rugby, shinty and volleyball.
• An Annual Activities Week for S1–S3. The Activities Week which took place in May 2005 offered a choice of 45 activities, catering for all tastes. Activities included arts and crafts, canoeing, car mechanics, digital photography, drama, dry-stone walling, fishing, Indian cooking, mountain biking, residential expeditions, sailing, triathlon and yoga.
• The 10K Club was established by the PE department – initially as a means of encouraging those pupils who were not very active or not interested in team games or sports. An individual recording sheet is provided for participants to keep their own record. It sets four daily targets: 1. Walk/run 10K steps; 2. Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables; 3. Eat three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner); 4. Drink two litres of water. Top Tips are also given, for example: go for a walk at lunchtime; fruit and vegetables can be fresh, frozen, tinned or dried; start your day with a breakfast of toast, cereal or porridge and fruit; drink water instead of fizzy drinks, tea or coffee. Pedometers are issued to participants to enable them to record their steps.
• Inter-house competitions in football, hockey and cross country provide further opportunities and encouragement to take part in physical activities.
• Twice weekly activities evenings take place in the games hall for school hostel residents.

It should be noted that the school provides the above range of activities despite severe restrictions on current accommodation, particularly PE facilities. Arrangements have been made to use community facilities due to the lack of in-school provision and the loss of an all-weather pitch while new school buildings are constructed. A new school is scheduled to be built by summer 2008.

Citizenship

Good citizenship is encouraged:

• by providing pupils with opportunities to participate in decision making: for example, on senior and junior pupil councils, or as pupil representatives on the school board
• by arranging consultation by questionnaire on new policies: for example, anti-bullying and cultural entitlement
• by allowing pupils to organise charitable events
• through a community service group that involves staff and pupils
• through an annual beach clean-up by S2 pupils
• by pupils providing entertainment in the home for the elderly. 

Eating for Health

This is being addressed both through the curriculum and by means of a whole school approach.

• The home economics curriculum links with local businesses support activities, such as devising a healthy sandwich in S1 (sponsored by the tuck shop) and a gourmet challenge in S2 (supported by the Cuillin Hills Hotel).
• Vending machines selling healthy snacks and water coolers were introduced in response to pupil council requests.
• Improved choice has been provided in the canteen since October 2005; further improvements are to be introduced gradually – for example, there will be a reduction in the number of days on which chips are available.
• Hostel catering is of a high standard and has a range of fresh fruit available at all times.
• There is a cross-curricular project on nutrition and exercise/raising awareness of alcohol and substance abuse, which is a partnership between the home economics and PE departments and Ross County Football Club.
• Healthy snacks are provided at some activities. 

Partnership working

A range of partnerships between school staff enables the health promoting projects detailed above to take place.

Within the physical activities section, the key partners are:

• the Active Schools coordinator
• community hall
• swimming pool
• youth workers
• parents
• pupils
• local sports clubs – for example, the shinty club.

The creative activities benefit from links with:

• Eden Court Theatre outreach workers
• Mod/music festivals
• visiting instrumental tutors
• local arts centre and craft industries
• visiting storytellers and writers.

Good citizenship and support for pupils involves a wide range of links with other services provided in the school and also the support of parents, businesses, professional services and voluntary organisations within the wider community.

The co-location of some services, such as the school nurse and Youth Action Team, aids the delivery and accessibility of support. A multi-agency liaison group meets regularly to provide support and devise alternative arrangements to meet identified needs. Parental support through the school board and parent teacher association (PTA) is another strength of the school.

Healthy eating is addressed at all stages of the curriculum in both home economics and PSHE lessons. Partners involved in this include:

• the home economics department
• the PE department
• the Highland Council Catering Service
• local hotels
• Ross County Football Club.

The various aspects of the project are monitored through:

• school self-evaluation/auditing procedures
• Highland Council's quality assurance programme
• the health promoting school accreditation process
• Active Schools coordinator annual report
• pupil council discussions and pupil questionnaires
• parental feedback through school board and questionnaires. 

• Increased levels of activity are now taking place: for example, the 10k club has widened participation.
• Healthier options are provided in the canteen and by vending machines.
• The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, as part of alternative curriculum provision, has proved a motivating factor for some pupils with particular needs.
• Co-location of other professionals has provided additional support for pupils. 

Future plans

• Healthy eating – to build on the first steps taken by increasing healthy options available at school lunches and reducing days when chips are available. Healthy snacks in dispensers and healthy snack options have already been introduced
• Staff health and well-being through participation in school and continuing professional development (CPD) activities. For example, the February in-service training will focus on staff health and well-being, with activities such as alternative therapies, relaxation and yoga.
• The 10k Club plans for expansion – to include staff.
• Skye Camanachd shinty training from February onwards.
• Ross County Football Academy coaching from April onwards.

Don Esson
Depute Headteacher
Email: Don Esson
Don.Esson@highland.gov.uk

Portree High School
Viewfield Road
Portree
Isle of Skye
IV51 9ET
Tel: 01478 612030