Primary schools lead way in encouraging healthy lifestyle
A survey has shown that primary schools are making progress in getting children to move more and eat more healthily, though there is still room for improvement
Get pupils moving
The survey examined the policies concerning healthy food, moving and sitting still, smoking, alcohol and drugs, mental health and the environment, in about 730 primary and 250 secondary schools.
Primary schools in particular score well on healthy food; for example, offering less chocolate milk and fruit juice, down from 57% of schools in 2012 to 43% in 2015. However, they offer less fruit and less milk.
In secondary education, 36% of schools in 2015 offered sugary and fatty snacks, compared to 28% in 2012. They also offer less fresh fruit.
The survey also found a growing willingness in primary schools to get pupils moving via activities during short breaks, for example transitions between lessons. While 68% of the primary schools did this in 2009, 93% had this policy in 2015.
