The Healthy Schools Wandsworth programme
The Healthy Schools programme is a well-evidenced 'whole-school approach' that enables schools to achieve an environment, ethos and culture that helps to promote the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff.
The programme is sponsored by the Mayor of London and the London borough of Wandsworth.
How the awards work
There are three levels of awards: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The tiered structure of the award is designed to help schools to progressively build on their policies and practice over a period of time.
Bronze Award
The Bronze Award is a review of current policies and practices, ensuring basic ‘Healthy Schools’ standards are in place. Schools are asked to complete the Healthy Schools London (HSL) Bronze Review Tool and are required to repeat the process every three years to maintain their healthy school status.
To see the impact at the bronze level watch short promotional case study videos.
Primary bronze case study: The Russell School
Secondary bronze case study: Turing House School
Silver Award
To apply for a Silver Award, schools need a valid Bronze Award. Silver Award requires schools to conduct a needs analysis to identify unique health issues or a priority. Based on the identified priority (e.g., healthy eating, oral health, PSHE, mental health and wellbeing), schools will assess pupils’ needs, collect baseline data and design an action plan.
The plan should include actions that would be carried throughout a minimum of two terms. The plan should include universal (whole school) and targeted audience (e.g. children with SEN, Year 5 girls, Reception). Watch a short Thomson House case study outlining their focus on embedding Daily Mile into KS1 daily routine and increasing more cooking opportunities for all pupils.
Silver case study: The Thomson School
To apply, use the HSL Silver Award Tool.
Gold Award
Schools that have achieved a Silver Award can apply for the Gold Award. To achieve the award, schools will report on the interventions carried out for the Silver Award and evaluate their impact on the targeted audience and wider community, including what worked well and the challenges. Watch St. Richard’s CE Primary School gold case study which focused on Healthy eating and living in a sustainable planet
Gold case study: St. Richard’s CE Primary School
To apply use the Gold Award Reporting Template.
Programme aims
The programme incorporates target areas for improving health throughout curriculum, ethos and culture in the following domains:
- Personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE)
- Relationships and sex education (RSE)
- Drug, alcohol and tobacco education
- Emotional wellbeing and mental health
- Healthy eating and oral health and
- Physical activity
Ofsted recognition
Schools can draw attention to their engagement in the programme during the Ofsted inspection.
The scheme supports pupils' personal development and wellbeing, which is recognised as a distinct criterion within the 2025 Ofsted inspection framework.
How schools can get involved
Schools can get involved by joining the award scheme. The borough lead will provide support through termly face-to-face or online one-to-one and group sessions. There is no cost to schools, and all support and resources, including policy templates, are free.
Schools need to register with Healthy Schools London. You can check if your school is already registered on their website.
If your school is interested in getting involved and you would like to find out more information, please contact your borough lead for support and advice via email at PublicHealth@wandsworth.gov.uk or download the HSL guidance pack.
Available support
We also commission a range of programmes and initiatives for schools, including the Health Related Behaviour Questionnaire, the PATHS programme, Loudmouth performances, support from immunisation teams, Pantosaurus costumes, supervised toothbrushing, and the Getting It On and Portus websites.
For an up-to-date offer contact your borough lead or check the Training & Professional Development Online.