Schools can make a substantial contribution to a student's health and well-being. This has been increasingly recognized by many international initiatives including those from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UNESCO, the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) and others.

Click here to view the Guidelines for Promoting Health in Schools in pdf format.

A range of strategies and programmes have evolved in the last twenty years with diverse names such as Health Promoting Schools, Comprehensive School Health, Child Friendly Schools and the FRESH initiative. However, these strategies share the connecting thread of a whole school approach and recognition that all aspects of the life of a school community are potentially important in the promotion of health. It has become clear in these approaches that it is necessary to do more than just offer health education classes in the curriculum if we wish schools to fulfill their potential in promoting the health of all our young people.The timing is right for a re-invigoration of the health promotion agenda in schools. There is a developing understanding of the interlinked relationship between school education and health and this is reflected by the prominence given to school education the in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Much attention is currently being focused by the Global Commission on the Social Determinant of Health on the unacceptable gap of 48 years in life expectancy between the world’s riches and poorest countries. The Bangkok Charter recognized that health should be a core responsibility of all government and their role should not be restricted to the health sector. In addition, there is growing evidence that effective schools, to which young people feel connected, can impact on health and inequalities in health.A considerable body of evidence has emerged in the last twenty years to inform governments, schools, non-government organizations (NGO’s), teachers, parents and students about effective school health programmes. School programmes that are integrated, holistic and strategic are more likely to produce better health and education outcomes than those which are mainly information based and implemented only in the classroom. Guidelines for Promoting Health in Schools have been produced to identify the basic principles and components of this approach. The Guidelines were produced through a process of discussion and consultation with health and educational professionals around the world. They draw on the best available research, evidence and good practice. They are presented in a summary format to assist government education and health ministries, schools, NGOs, and other interested groups and individuals to be more effective and strategic in their efforts to promote health in schools. This second version of the Guidelines was made available at the Directorate of Agencies for School Health (DASH) BC conference Healthy Schools: Improving Learning, Health and Literacy Conference by Lawrence St. Leger on November 7, 2008 in Vancouver, BC.They are attached here as part of DASH’s goal to share information about the effectiveness of a healthy school approach.

Click here to view the Guidelines for Promoting Health in Schools in pdf format.

Selections of key documents are referenced at the end of the Guidelines for Promoting Health in Schools and additional school health-related links as well as more detailed bibliographies are available at the International School Health Network and the IUHPE websites.