Health Educatioin Policy
To ensure that students receive appropriate advice and education to do
with matter of health as they affect schooling.
Health Education
Health is an important matter for all of us, and consists of well-being
physically, mentally and spiritually. It is important for all
individuals to take responsibility for their own health, and to maintain
it. Schools have a vital role to play (along with families and other
agencies) in enabling children to develop this sense of responsibility,
and to provide Health Education as a cross curricular theme. The
students at this School come from a variety of backgrounds; many are
very healthy, and the School wishes to build on this foundation. Health
Education is part of a wider role of health promotion. This involves not
just specific program, but is part of the spiritual, moral, social and
cultural development of students and of society.
As part of its promotion of health, this School accepts the nine
components of Health Education set out in the Health Education
Guidelines; namely,
Substance Use and Misuse (Drugs);
Gender Education,
Family Life Education,
Safety,
Health Related Exercise,
Food and Nutrition,
Personal Hygiene,
Environmental Aspects and
Psychological Aspects: Understanding the factors affecting mental
health, emotional well-being, and stress, and developing self-awareness.
Aims of Health Education
1. To develop positive attitudes towards health on the part of the
students and their families.
2. To prevent occurrences of ill-health by promoting responsible
attitudes and behaviour among students and their families.
3. To promote accurate information, knowledge and understanding about
health matters.
4. To clarify students' attitude and values, which influence their
choices in health matters.
5. To develop the skills necessary for healthy behaviour and lives.
PROVISION FOR HEALTH EDUCATION
Health Education is provided in the following ways:
1. Through the general ethos, atmosphere and relationships within the
School. The valuing of individuals, the practice of positive attitudes,
the development of co-operation and helpfulness are all aspects of
general School life which contribute towards the promotion of self
esteem, one of the most important pre-conditions for effective health
education.
2. Through the physical environment and procedures of the School which
are designed to promote health and safety as far as possible.
3. Through the role models offered by adults at the School.
4. Through the planned curriculum of the School, where Health Education
is identified in the planning and documentation. It is provided through
the : Tutorial Program & In a range of other curriculum areas
6. Management
All teachers are to some extent involved in Health Education as part of
their general teaching responsibilities, but it is managed and
coordinated by a specific member of staff.