15 Birmingham primary schools awarded for embracing healthier lifestyles

15 primary schools from across Birmingham have been awarded for building and sustaining healthy lifestyles as part of the Health for Life® initiative.

Pupils and teachers from the Birmingham-based schools gathered at the recently renovated Cadbury Concert Hall in Bournville to celebrate their achievements and proudly accept their plaques, which were presented by Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Ken Wood.

The Health for Life initiative, created and funded by Mondelēz International, and delivered in partnership with Services For Education and The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), empowers schools to champion healthy, active lifestyles by working closely with their communities and extending their curricular activities to create lasting, sustainable changes. So far, it has supported more than half of Birmingham primary schools.

Schools were recognised for implementing a variety of creative and impactful ideas to sustain healthy lifestyles. Pupils at St. Bernard’s Catholic Primary School in Moseley introduced internationally themed days, such as Spanish Day, where children learned not only the art of flamenco dancing but also the delicious secrets of making paella.

Adderley Primary School launched a free fruit trolley during break times so more students could access healthy snacks, as well as introducing bikes for pupils to enjoy in the playground. Meanwhile, Beeches Junior School encouraged families to get active with park runs, Ferndale Primary School launched a ‘Skip 2B Fit’ scheme across various age groups, and Mere Green Primary School created raised beds, allowing pupils to grow their own vegetables and fruit.

Helen Grundy, Health for Life Programme Lead at Services For Education, said: “We are incredibly proud of every one of the 15 primary schools, receiving their awards, that have embraced the Health for Lifeprogramme and gone above and beyond to inspire healthy habits among their students.

“Health for Life is not just a programme; it’s a way of life. The initiative aims to inspire teachers, pupils and their families to learn and develop both new and existing skills that promote healthier, more active lifestyles. We’ve already reached more than 151,000 students, families and staff in 14 years of Health for Life, and we’re still engaging more!”

Chris Gordon, Forest School Teacher at one of the awarded primary schools, Mere Green, added: “Being part of the Health for Life programme has been a fantastic experience for our school and our students.

“The pupils have learned so much about the importance of staying active and eating well, and it’s wonderful to see them applying what they’ve learnt over the past 18 months in their daily lives. We’re delighted to have been part of such an impactful programme and to have received an award that highlights our commitment to sustaining all we’ve learnt.”

For more information on the Health for Life scheme, visit www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/health-for-life/ and for further details on Mondelēz International, head to www.mondelezinternational.com.