The Healthy Schools programme is a well-evidenced 'whole-school approach' that enables schools to achieve an environment, ethos and culture that helps to promote the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff .
The programme is sponsored by the Mayor of London and the London borough of Richmond.
The 2020 Annual Public Health Report provided a rationale for reintroducing the Healthy Schools London programme to Richmond schools.
In 2026, our Director of Public Health returned to this theme presenting his report as a short film outlining the tangible impact of dedicated progress, celebrating five years of continuous improvement in promoting health and wellbeing throughout our schools and communities. Overall, the 2026 report celebrated continuous progress and the sustained benefits of the Healthy Schools programme in Richmond. This film can be seen here .
Turing House was delighted to be chosen as one of the case studies in Richmond. Our case study video can be seen below.
How the awards work
There are three levels of awards: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The tiered structure of the award is designed to help schools to progressively build on their policies and practice over a period of time.
Bronze Award
The Bronze Award is a review of current policies and practices, ensuring basic ‘Healthy Schools’ standards are in place. Schools are asked to complete the Healthy Schools London (HSL) Bronze Review Tool and are required to repeat the process every three years to maintain their healthy school status.
Silver Award
To apply for a Silver Award, schools need a valid Bronze Award. Silver Award requires schools to conduct a needs analysis to identify unique health issues or a priority. Based on the identified priority (for example, healthy eating, oral health, mental health and wellbeing), schools will assess pupils’ needs, collect baseline data and design an action plan.
The plan should include actions that would be carried throughout a minimum of two terms. The plan should include one universal (whole school) and a targeted audience (for example, children with SEN, Year 5 girls, Reception). To apply, use the Healthy Schools London (HSL) Silver Award Planning Template.
Gold Award
Schools that have achieved a Silver Award can apply for the Gold Award. To achieve the award, schools will report on the interventions carried out for the Silver Award and evaluate their impact on the targeted audience and wider community, including what worked well and the challenges.
To apply use the Gold Award Reporting Template.
Programme aims
The programme incorporates target areas for improving health throughout curriculum, ethos and culture in the following domains:
- Personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE)
- Relationships and sex education (RSE)
- Drug, alcohol and tobacco education
- Emotional wellbeing and mental health
- Healthy eating and oral health and
- Physical activity
Ofsted recognition
Schools can draw attention to their engagement in the programme during the Ofsted inspection.
Ofsted inspectors may wish to consider the scheme as evidence when reaching judgment on ‘personal development’ as outlined in the 2019 education inspection framework.