School effects research provide new and stronger evidence in support of the health‐promoting school idea

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine evidence from an emerging body of “school effects” research on pupils' health and health behaviours like smoking, and how this in turn may contribute to the evidence‐base for the health promoting school concept.

Design/methodology/approach

Following on from educational research which demonstrates how schools can impact on pupil attainment over and above the characteristics of pupils attending them, this paper examines whether there is evidence for a similar “school effect” on pupils health and health behaviours.

Findings

The research shows that pupils' health does vary between schools in the same way as attainment; that this is not explained by pupil characteristics such as social class or deprivation, and that school ethos is a key factor distinguishing “healthy” from “less healthy” schools. Most studies have focussed on health behaviours, notably smoking where the evidence for a “school effect” is particularly strong.

Originality/value

The evidence from “school effects” research on pupils' health, while falling short of the gold‐standard RCT, is supportive of the health promoting school concept, and that governments are on the right lines in doing so. This paper will be of interest to those in the fields of health and education.

Citation

West, P. (2006), "School effects research provide new and stronger evidence in support of the health‐promoting school idea", Health Education, Vol. 106 No. 6, pp. 421-424. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654280610711370