Heart Mark for Healthy Schools
Healthy Schools in Derby City have the exciting opportunity to gain Heart Mark Status alongside their Healthy Schools Status. The purpose of ‘Heart Mark’ is to engage schools in the ‘Derby City - Heart City’ campaign, which was launched in 2012 by the Mayor of the City of Derby. This is a city wide heart health awareness campaign in association with the British Heart Foundation and engaging schools in the campaign is one of the objectives of being a Heart City.
Derby City is the first city in England to develop Heart Mark Status for schools to achieve healthy hearts in their school communities.
How do we achieve Heart Mark Status in our school?
Schools can demonstrate their commitment to promoting ‘healthy hearts’ in their school community through:
- the curriculum
- staff continuing professional development (CPD)
- school media, events and promotions
- an Annual Whole School Review
- completion of the Heart Mark Criteria form
These forms should be sent to healthy.schools@derby.gov.uk and the Healthy Schools Team will quality check your submission. You will then be sent a letter of congratulations with feedback, a certificate awarding Heart Mark Status to be displayed in your school, and the Heart Mark logo to use on your school publications.
What are the resources to help you achieve Heart Mark Status?
The following resources are available:
- Education resources. The BHS website has a variety of resources to support teaching and learning about healthy lifestyles. These resources are free of charge however the BHF welcome a donation towards their costs. British Heart Foundation Children’s Resources
- British Heart Foundation (BHF) activities. The BHF provide school fundraising activities whereby free skipping ropes, dodgeballs etc. are provided to schools to raise funds for the BHF and for their school. British Heart Foundation Activities for Schools and Youth Groups
- Free Emergency Life-saving skills training. By affiliating with BHF Heart Start Programme schools are given free comprehensive guidance, training and resources including mannequins to help their pupils learn life saving techniques. CPR Training in Schools
Useful websites
- Healthy Eating page
- Physical Activity page
Good Practice Stories
We are encouraging schools to share stories of Good Practice in any area of their Healthy Schools work to encourage other schools to share creative ideas towards excellent practice and for us all to celebrate their achievements. Please do submit stories to julia.mitton@derby.gov.uk and please include your school story when you have achieved a Healthy Schools Enhancement, Heart Mark or any other area of Healthy Schools work.