News and Information
Healthy 11-16 year olds News
Recent information about young people, aged 11-16, and their health and behaviour chosen from SHEU's databanks and the Internet
Worcestershire Young People's Health Related Behaviour Survey (SHEU Survey 2007)
The Health-Related Behaviour Survey (SHEU Survey) was originally carried out in Worcestershire in 2004. The survey provides a scientific approach to measuring outcomes in relation to young people's health knowledge and behaviour.
Key findings of the 2007 survey are that there have been significant improvements, since 2004, in young people's health related behaviour in the areas of:
- healthy eating
- how well they rate PSHE lessons
- how well they rate sex and relationships education and drugs education lessons
- drugs, alcohol and tobacco use
- knowledge of specialist young people's services
- knowledge of where to go for free condoms
However, compared to young people in the rest of England, Worcestershire young people are more likely to drink alcohol and more likely to be offered illegal drugs. They also eat fewer portions of fruit and vegetables and are less likely to take a school lunch.
These findings have already informed the actions and priorities in the new Children and Young People's Plan and they will continue to inform the work of schools and their partners as we work together to improve the health and wellbeng of all our children and young people.
The Health-Related Behaviour Questionnaire 
(512.57 KB)
Full Report of Survey (734.21 KB)
Summary of Survey (233.83 KB)
Statistics (327.43 KB)
MEND
MEND is a practical, fun, family orientated 10-week programme aiming to help children and their families improve their eating and activity habits. It is targeted at overweight or obese 7-13 year olds and their families, inspiring and supporting them to make sustainable lifestyle changes.
The programme consists of 20 sessions of 2 hours twice a week, which includes 2 pre and post measurement sessions. The programme combines healthy eating information with behaviour change exploration and weekly physical activity.
The sessions consist of an interactive hour of information, discussion and practical activities about topics such as eating a balanced diet, portion sizes, how to read food labels, goal setting and improving self-esteem and confidence. There is also a supermarket tour and a food tasting evening.
This is then followed by an hour of activity for the children, which comprises a range of alternative, non-competitive games and team activities to engage the group. Trained professionals such as school nurses, health visitors and sports coaches deliver the sessions.
The programme is free of charge, but a parent/carer must attend each session with their child.
During the autumn term, 4 programmes will be running. These will be located in Woodfield Middle and Birchensale Middle Schools in Redditch, Catshill Middle School in Bromsgrove and Witton Middle School in Droitwich.
For more information and to find out how you can support the promotion of MEND and recruitment of families, or if your school is interested in hosting a MEND programme, contact Donna Broad on 01905 766774.
School Pupils will be asked what they want to learn in Sex and Relationships Teaching
[Taken from Sex Education Forum Press Release 27.02.08]
School pupils will have the opportunity to influence what they are taught in sex and relationships education (SRE) lessons, so that it helps them make safe and healthy choices. The new initiative, an SRE audit ‘toolkit’, has been developed by the Sex Education Forum, to help schools canvas young people’s opinions on what they think they should learn about at various ages. They will also be asked how and by whom they think their SRE should be delivered - with choices ranging from their teacher or peer educators to outside experts.
The initiative comes in the week that the schools minister, Jim Knight, announced a full review of how Sex and Relationship Education is delivered in schools. The government is setting up a steering group to carry out the work.
Anna Martinez, head of the Sex Education Forum, which is hosted by the National Children’s Bureau, said the new toolkit was timely. We know that high quality SRE is essential in bringing down teenage pregnancy rates. This is the first time that schools have a resource to consult young people about the content and teaching of their sex and relationship education, and use their feedback to improve the quality of SRE.” said Anna Martinez. For example, young people tell us that they want to learn the emotional implications of relationships, as well as the biological facts. They tell us that there is a big gap between the SRE they want and what they actually receive. The toolkit will really help schools provide the SRE which meets their pupils’ needs.”
The toolkit is being funded by the Teenage Pregnancy Unit in the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and will be available for use by schools, pupils, governors, National Healthy Schools Coordinators and teenage pregnancy co-ordinators.
Schools Minister Jim Knight said: Young people are at the heart of the national review of SRE delivery in schools. We are keen to help schools find out whether the SRE they are currently providing to their pupils is meeting their needs, so we have supported the Sex Education Forum to develop the SRE pupil audit toolkit. This toolkit will give schools practical ways of involving young people, to ensure they do get the information and support to make safe and healthy choices.’
The toolkit will be available to download from the Sex Education Forum website www.ncb.org.uk/sef .
Last modification: 11:56:47, 24th October, 2008 by Stephanie Mowbray
Review date: 21st January, 2009
