Primary schools in the Vale join together for health and wellbeing celebration

Primary schools across the Vale of Glamorgan came together last month to celebrate their fantastic work in promoting positive health and wellbeing.   

Around 120 pupils, teachers and other school employees gathered at the Memo Arts Centre in Barry for a day of fun and learning on Wednesday, June 28.  

Schools presented on projects they had undertaken around health and wellbeing and all were recognised for their achievements.   

Councillor Rhiannon Birch, Cabinet Member for Education, Arts and the Welsh Language at Vale of Glamorgan Council, presented awards to schools for excellence in a variety of areas, including the Eco-Schools programme, Designed to Smile and Children's Rights Ambassadors.  

Schools were also recognised for achieving the National Quality Award for the Welsh Network of Healthy Schools Scheme either for the first time or as a reassessment.  

Nobody sat still for long as the event encouraged everyone attending to be active. The ‘wake-up-shake-up’ and energiser activities allowed all those present to get moving and be active. The sessions created energy in the hall with lots of laughter, fun and movement.   

The event was also an excellent opportunity to learn more about the impressive range of services and organisations that exist to help schools develop their health and wellbeing work.  

A range of organisations ran stalls which the pupils and school staff could visit. As part of this, pupils could also find the answers to Health and Wellbeing quiz questions. 

Schools attending took away a sense of achievement for the work they have been doing as well as becoming inspired by the work in other schools.   

Claire Beynon, Deputy Director of Public Health, attended the event and found it inspirational. She said: “I was delighted to attend this ‘Celebration of Health and Wellbeing’ in Vale of Glamorgan primary schools. The presentations delivered showed such enthusiasm and creativity from our schools, and demonstrated a huge commitment to this crucially important work.   

“Thanks to the stallholders for coming along and sharing the excellent services they offer. The contributions from all of you do not go unnoticed. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you all again at the next event.”