Using the HAPPEN Survey to develop a whole school approach to health and wellbeing with Eveswell and Somerton Primary School

Running the HAPPEN Survey with Nottage Primary School

We first heard about HAPPEN at a Bridgend Planning for Improvement Meeting in the Autumn Term. Like many schools we had been looking for a way to measure pupils’ wellbeing in KS2 and the questionnaire surveyed all of the areas we were keen to measure. The report was really informative and indicated several areas for development, some which surprised us and some which we were expecting. Some of the actions were easy to implement straight away, such as leading an assembly on the importance of sleep using cBeebies Dr Ranj videoclips. Other issues were more complex but gave us food for thought regarding the way we teach elements of health and wellbeing throughout the school. As a result of this we have just ordered a whole school scheme called JIGSAW which we will begin using in September from Nursery to Year 6.

The report was easy to read, particularly the pupil’s version and it was easy to see how this could be used as the basis for a research project with pupils, enabling them to identify areas for personal and school development.

We are keen to use the survey again next year but will run it in October to allow time for pupils to conduct their own research and set targets based on the data; ideally we would do it again towards the end of the year to see whether improvements have been made. We plan to run it in years 4, 5 and 6 and are hoping that the accompanying pupil booklet will be in a form that we can attach to our school app (SCHOOP); this will enable parents to see it and become involved in the project alongside their children.

We are looking forward to renewing our partnership with HAPPEN in the autumn term and excited to see the benefits it will bring to the health and wellbeing of our pupils and hopefully their families too.

Nottage Primary School