Acknowledging educational perspectives on health promoting schools

• Published in: Health education (Bradford, West Yorkshire, England) West Yorkshire, England), 2010-01, Vol.110 (4), p.240-251
• Main Authors: Keshavarz Mohammadi, Nastaran, Rowling, Louise, Nutbeam, Don
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Administrator Attitudes; Australia; Behavior; Educational Objectives; Elementary Education; Elementary School Students; Elementary Schools; Foreign Countries; Head teachers; Health Education; Health Personnel; Health Programs; Health Promotion; Health status; Holistic approach; Improvement programs; Individual Needs; Instructional Leadership; Integrated approach; Interviews; Life Style; Lifestyle; Methods Research; Outcomes of Education; Parent participation; Perceptions; Physical health; Primary education; Primary schools; Principals; Psychological Patterns; Public health; Qualitative Research; School Health Services; Schools; Semi Structured Interviews; Structured Interviews; Student Behavior; Success; System theory; Teacher Attitudes; Teacher role; Teachers; Well being; Whole school approach; World Health Organisation (WHO)
• ISSN: 0965-4283; 1758-714X
• DOI: 10.1108/09654281011052619

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to explore educational perspectives towards the concept of health promoting schools and its potential benefits for schools in more depth.Design methodology approach - This paper presents the results of a qualitative study based on interviews with school staff including principals, and teachers with responsibility for health promotion from 18 primary schools in Sydney, Australia, examining their understanding of the health promoting schools concept, and their perceptions of its advantages for schools.Findings - The study documents the variety of school staff perceptions. Further examination of the data led to the emergence of four broad categories to accommodate diverse perceptions on health promoting schools. The findings point to several challenges that need to be addressed by advocates of the health promoting schools concept, most notably developing a shared understanding between health and education sectors of the practical elements and potential benefits.Practical implications - Sustaining school health interventions, including health promoting schools programs and maintaining their positive outcomes, is likely to be more achievable in circumstances where schools can identify benefits that fit with their core business of education, and their local needs and priorities.Originality value - This study adds depth to the understanding of the diversity in educational perspectives regarding the meaning and benefits of health promoting schools. This study also revealed an understanding among school leaders that there is scope for realizing both health and educational outcomes from school health promotion programs.