London’s Deputy Mayor for Education and Childcare, Joanne McCartney, visited George Spicer Primary School in Enfield yesterday, to mark the school’s excellent work to improve the health and wellbeing of its pupils.
George Spicer Primary School has gained the Mayor’s Healthy Schools London Silver and Bronze Awards in recognition of their work creating a calm space for pupils to eat, encouraging healthy eating choices and expanding their range of food.
The Deputy Mayor, who is also London Assembly Member for Enfield and Haringey met staff and children from each year group and observed a range of activities to support their Healthy Schools London programme. She took part in a healthy eating lesson with year 3 pupils and attended a road safety lesson with a year 4 group. She also met year 6 Healthy Schools ambassadors and accompanied the reception children at lunch.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is committed to making London the best place in the world to grow up. He is supporting schools to help children and young people reach their potential by helping them to create healthier environments for their pupils. His Healthy Schools London programme gives Bronze, Silver and Gold awards to schools that encourage young Londoners to learn about their health and develop their motivation to make healthy choices. The Mayor is also supporting the Daily Mile – a campaign that encourages all schools to get their pupils moving every day to improve their overall fitness and wellbeing.
Deputy Mayor for Education and Childcare and London Assembly Member for Enfield and Haringey, Joanne McCartney, said: “We all want to help young Londoners stay healthy and happy as they grow up.
“Our Healthy Schools London programme helps schools to encourage children to lead a healthy lifestyle by helping them to make healthier choices, broaden their variety and knowledge of food, get active in PE sessions, and by encourage mindfulness from a young age.
“The staff and students at George Spicer Primary School, should be so proud of their hard work in achieving the Bronze and Silver Award. I hope their success inspires more schools to sign up to Healthy Schools London.”
Mr Dominic Spong, Headteacher at George Spicer Primary School said: “We are so pleased to welcome Joanne McCartney, London’s Deputy Mayor for Education and Childcare to our school today. I am tremendously proud of the staff and pupils for achieving the Mayor’s Healthy Schools London Silver and Bronze Awards for our efforts in supporting our pupils make healthy food and exercise choices. It has been a fun filled day showing the deputy mayor all the ways we are helping our children, I hope she enjoyed it as much as we did. We will continue our work to improve children and young people's wellbeing through the programme.”
Notes to editors
Healthy Schools London is a programme that supports London’s schools to provide an environment and culture that helps their pupils grow up to be healthy happy and learn. An award scheme sponsored by the Mayor of London, the programme recognises and celebrates schools that are making a difference for their pupils. The Healthy Schools London programme supports schools as they work towards these awards, with a network of local coordinators, and a range of resources, tools and advice provided through this website and regular workshops for schools.
Healthy Schools Progress in Enfield
- 78 schools have registered with HSL
- 54 schools have achieved the HSL Bronze award
- 28 schools have achieved the HSL Silver award
- 7 schools have achieved the HSL Gold award