Linlithgow Academy Case Study
Cluster Challenge
The key points to this case study are:
- addresses aspects of Curriculum for Excellence
- involves collaborative working
- uses peer education.
The specific aim of this project was to devise a health and physical activity initiative in cluster schools, working in partnership with pupils, parents and carers, school and catering staff and health professionals.
The Linlithgow Academy cluster of health promoting schools ran a six-week Challenge, inviting around 600 pupils and their parents to think about some of the choices they make each day which impact on their health.
The Challenge is part of the health promoting school curriculum and is funded through West Lothian’s Hungry for Success whole school approach to healthy eating initiative. The cost of the project totalled £7000.
Who was involved?
The partners involved include:
- Active Schools Co-ordinator
- West Lothian Food and Health Co-ordinator
- Dieticians
- West Lothian Catering Services.
Why it was developed
Linlithgow Academy Captain’s Team of senior pupils has challenged S1 pupils and pupils from P7, P6 and some of P5 from the six cluster primary schools to invite a parent or carer to be their partner in the Challenge. Each week the senior pupils set a Challenge for the week as follows:
- Week 1 - Eating for Health
- Week 2 - Munch a Healthy Lunch!
- Week 3 - Step it up!
- Week 4 - Think about what you Drink!
- Week 5 - 5-a-Day
- Week 6 - Begin with Breakfast!
In preparation for their role as peer educators the senior pupils received training about Hungry for Success and health promoting schools as well as practice sessions for each of the presentations they were to carry out. The peer educators planned for 51 presentations across the participating schools.
What we did
The Challenge was introduced by the Captain’s Team to the pupils through an information session at S1 Assembly as well as to the P5-P7 classes at the cluster primary schools. Each pupil was given an information pack and a weekly Challenge activity task to complete.
In addition to this the pupils were issued with a folder to file the Challenge information and a series of competitions was set for the six weeks.
Week 1 Challenge
The Captain’s Team visited each school to present an information session on Eating for Health highlighting a balanced plate model, which shows what proportion of the different food groups everyone should eat to ensure a healthy diet. The Challenge was to keep a food diary for seven days where the pupil and their partner could reflect on what they ate each day and how it met the Eating for Health model. The competition was to design a poster showing everything they or their partner ate in one day on the Eating for Health plate.
Week 2 Challenge
For week 2 the Captain’s Team challenged pupils and their partners to eat a healthy lunch each day based on the Eating for Health model introduced in week 1 and to keep a lunch diary for seven days. Pupils were issued with a leaflet, a diary sheet and also a free packed lunch.
Week 3 Challenge
For week 3 of the Challenge all pupils were issued with a pedometer, for themselves and their partner, a leaflet pack and a diary sheet. The Challenge was to count the number of steps taken each day. To introduce this Challenge the presentation from the Captain’s Team highlighted the importance of physical activity for good health as well as energy input and output.
At the same time within Linlithgow Academy maths and physical education (PE) lessons had learning activities focusing on the use of pedometers.
Week 4 Challenge
This week the Captain’s Challenge was to think about what you drink! The presentation to the pupils informed them about the amount of sugar in fizzy drinks and sweetened juices and gave eight good reasons for drinking eight glasses of water a day:
- healthier teeth and gums
- fresher breath
- better concentration
- healthier skin, hair and body
- helps keep body in shape
- prevents dehydration
- helps people to feel more active and have more energy.
For this Challenge pupils received a free bottle of water for themselves and their partner, an information leaflet and a diary sheet to complete each evening.
Week 5 Challenge
The Challenge this week was to eat 5-a-day everyday by counting how many portions of fruit and vegetables are in their diet and suggest ways of meeting this target.
During this Challenge the pupils received free cartons of fruit juice or pieces of fruit for themselves and their partners, an information sheet and a diary sheet.
Week 6 Challenge
The final Challenge was to begin with breakfast with the presentation to the pupils regarding the benefits of eating breakfast.
Part of the Challenge included the issuing of free breakfast cereals and fruit juices to all primary pupils for themselves and their partners. In the secondary school the pupils took part in a ‘Begin with a Business Breakfast’ where they took part in group discussion tasks.
What have we learned?
The use of the Challenge has proven to be a good idea however it does take commitment and shared responsibility from all partners to make it happen. The team who are involved therefore need to believe that the Challenge can happen.
Often health is not seen as exciting therefore can be an up-hill struggle with more barriers than enablers in health. It is important to remain positive and believe in what is being done.
People need to realise that there are only going to be small steps taken at any one time but each of the steps are a journey on the route to longer term health improvement.
Peer education has been an important aspect of the Challenge and from this experience, and others, it is definitely a model that works. Young people as educators and role models have a credibility.
The peer educators require appropriate support including materials, information and staff support. In this example the peer educators delivered 51 presentations across the eight participating schools.
The makeup of the Challenge Team was seen as important and consisted of a range of pupils, not just head boy/girl and prefects.
Given the range of the Challenge it is important that time for collaborative working is identified by partners, seen as important and a commitment to the challenge given.
The Challenge addressed aspects of Curriculum for Excellence particularly:
| Successful learners | Confident individuals |
|---|---|
with
| with
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| Responsible citizens | Effective contributors |
with
| with
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Where are we now?
There has been positive feedback regarding the Challenge and the use of peer education across the model. It is envisaged that because the Challenge focussed on P6-S1 in particular then three year groups of pupils will now have some knowledge of Eating for Health and physical activity.
It is quite likely therefore that a similar challenge would not be carried out on an annual basis but more likely on a three-year cycle.
Contact details
Valerie Drew
Health Promoting School Co-ordinator
Linlithgow Academy
Braehead Road
Linlithgow
EH49 6EH
Tel: 01506 843211
Email: Valerie Drew
linlithgow.ac@wled.org.uk
Web: www.linlithgowacademy.org
| School | Roll |
|---|---|
| Linlithgow Academy | 1200 |
| Bridgend Primary School | 76 |
| Low Port Primary School | 217 |
| Linlithgow Primary School | 413 |
| Linlithgow Bridge Primary School | 231 |
| Springfield Primary School | 337 |
| Winchburgh Primary School | 151 |
