Healthy Lifestyles

The Farnley Academy is proud to hold National Healthy School Status and to be part of the Leeds Healthy Schools and Wellbeing programme.

What is a Healthy School? To achieve the standard, schools must show that they meet over forty criteria which lay the foundations for good health. The big impact of Healthy Schools is a whole school approach which includes students, parents and carers, teachers, governors and support staff all working together to cover four key themes:

• Personal, Social and Health Education
• Healthy eating
• Physical Activity
• Emotional Health and Wellbeing

The programmes offered in school help to equip students with the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills to make informed decisions about their lives. Students have the confidence to make healthy food choices from the healthy and nutritious food options available during the school day. They are given a wide range of opportunities to take part in physical activity and they understand how this can be a part of everyday life which helps them to be more healthy. Positive emotional health is promoted, so students can understand and express their feelings. The school has clear values and policies which reject discrimination and bullying.

We were delighted that the most recent validation recognised especially that our students are happy, confident and polite and enjoy belonging to the school community. Other key findings include the fact that students show an excellent knowledge of health agendas. Relationships within school are very strong. Positive discipline makes a major contribution to enjoyment of school and attendance at school.

We are sure that holding Healthy School status really does make a difference, helping our students to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution to the community and achieve economic wellbeing.