The Health Promoting Schools framework

The Health Promoting Schools (HPS) framework encourages a whole school approach to health promotion by developing a coordinated and integrated approach to the health and wellbeing of all school community members. The framework can be used by schools to plan a holistic approach to sexuality and relationships education.

The framework can facilitate a whole school commitment to improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of the school community based on the following keys:

• schools shape the lives of the students who go there
• community involvement enhances the learning environment
• physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing impacts on what people can achieve and how people develop in their lives
• schools are more than just classrooms and lessons.

The HPS framework components are addressed when planning and implementing school activities, programs and policies. By addressing each component of the framework school communities can take a coordinated, comprehensive approach to health promotion.

Curriculum, teaching and learning:

• describes planned teaching and learning, with a focus on what is taught and how it is taught and learnt
• teachers promote health and wellbeing through their teaching style and methods, involving students and the community, working collaboratively across KLAs, teaching inclusively and making use of links within the school community

School organisation, ethos and environment:

• the social and physical environments of a school
• is framed by the policies, procedures and practices within a school community

Partnerships and services:

• describes the connections made with the wider community
• recognises the role of the family and the benefits of family and student involvement
• by developing relationships with outside organisations, student outcomes can be improved with access to resources, information and other services

Adapted from Queensland Health & Education Queensland. (2006). What is a Health Promoting School. Retrieved on 22 January, 2009 from www.health.qld.gov.au/ph/Documents/saphs/27008.pdf