Stanwell School has been awarded the Welsh Network of Healthy School Schemes National Quality Award.

Schools that achieve the NQA are implementing wellbeing initiatives at the very highest level.

The WNHSS describes a health promoting school as one which 'actively promotes, protects and embeds the physical, mental and social health and well being of its community through positive action'.

This can be achieved through policy, strategic planning, staff development, curriculum, ethos, physical environment and community relations.

Within the scheme, there are seven different health topics that schools need to address. These include:

• Food and Fitness

• Personal Development and Relationships

• Environment

• Hygiene

All schools in Wales are engaged with the scheme and following on from successful engagement an independent assessment for the National Quality Award takes place once a school has reached Phase 6 of the local healthy school scheme, after 8-9 years of active involvement.

Stanwell has now been recognised formally as a health promoting school, which actively encourages the core areas of school life which affect health and wellbeing.

The school has been participating in the healthy schools scheme over many years, so its principles are entrenched in the work and actions of the school.

Lydia Crowter, who teaches media studies as well as being the Healthy Schools Coordinator, applied for the award and helped the school prepare for the assessment.

She said: '' I wanted to get the National Quality Award, because I believed we were already offering excellent provision across the seven key areas and I knew it was a way of getting our hard work recognised nationally.

''I worked with members of the eco-committee, and links with the PE / food / PSE / school council pupil voice.''

Students were also involved in the project and were key to the build up and the 2-day assessment itself.

An assessment took place in the school before Stanwell was awarded and a report was presented summarising the visit.

Some of the highlights of Stanwell's final report state that:

"The ethos of supporting and providing guidance to students has an extremely positive impact on pupil outcomes, both educationally and in their moral and social development"

"The whole dining experience in the school is outstanding"

"Physical activity provision at Ysgol Stanwell School is excellent, with staff able to provide a wide range of activities where participation is emphasised"

"The school's approach towards the promotion of the mental and emotional wellbeing of both staff and students is an outstanding feature of the school's work."

There will be a presentation of the award in October which the Head of the Welsh Schools Consortium and the Head of Public Health Wales will attend.