School’s Pledge: Driving whole-school change

As the current phase of the School’s Pledge concludes, the programme has made strong progress across Cheshire and Merseyside.

Over the past 18 months, it has grown into a network of more than 60 schools, including three SEND settings, supported by over 50 launch and celebration events. Schools have moved beyond initial engagement into delivery, embedding practical changes that support healthier eating, increased physical activity and improved wellbeing. A key shift has been towards whole-school approaches, with leadership, staff, pupils and families contributing to more consistent practice.

Using the School’s Pledge framework alongside targeted funding, schools have translated priorities into tangible change. This includes improvements to food provision and dining environments, clearer and more consistent approaches to snacks, packed lunches and hydration, and more opportunities for movement throughout the school day through both structured activity and active travel. Many schools are also expanding cooking, growing and food education, while strengthening wellbeing support and inclusive practice, including for pupils with SEND.

Engagement with families and local communities has become a core part of delivery. Through workshops, events and partnerships, schools are reinforcing consistent messages and supporting healthier behaviours beyond the school setting. Together, these developments mark a shift from one-off initiatives towards embedded, sustainable practice across school systems and culture.

Impact and learning

Early findings show consistent progress across key areas. Schools report stronger whole-school leadership, improvements in food culture, increased movement throughout the day, and a greater focus on wellbeing and inclusion. In many settings, this has supported a more coordinated approach across policy, practice and culture, with greater alignment between health, wellbeing and learning.

Schools also report increased consistency in delivery and growing confidence among staff as approaches become embedded. At the same time, challenges remain around capacity and sustaining engagement. These insights are helping to shape how the programme will develop in its next phase.

A full evaluation, being delivered in partnership with the Open University, will be published in May and will provide further evidence on impact and future direction.

Across the region, delivery reflects local context while maintaining a consistent whole-school approach. Schools are strengthening food environments, increasing opportunities for physical activity and embedding support for wellbeing and inclusion. Many are also using cooking, growing and food education to build practical skills alongside healthier behaviours, with ongoing engagement from families and local partners supporting long-term change.

St Columba’s Primary (Knowsley): Fruit kebab stall at parent engagement event

Next phase and continued delivery

Although the current Cheshire and Merseyside ICB-funded phase concluded at the end of March, the School’s Pledge will continue into the next academic year.

Several local authorities across Cheshire and Merseyside have committed to ongoing delivery, providing a strong foundation for the next phase. The focus will be on embedding progress within existing schools while expanding the programme to new settings. Support will continue through action-setting sessions, shared resources, network meetings and tailored guidance, with an increased emphasis on long-term sustainability.

The School’s Pledge is now established as a coordinated, whole-school approach to improving children’s health and wellbeing, aligned with local priorities and wider prevention policy. The continued commitment from schools, local authorities and partners demonstrates the value of a collaborative, prevention-focused approach.

Progress has also been reflected in a wide range of school-led activity. Across the region, schools are improving food provision and dining environments, increasing physical activity, developing outdoor learning and growing projects, and strengthening wellbeing and family engagement. Examples include schools transforming growing spaces, using food-based activities to engage parents, delivering family-focused events, and promoting initiatives such as hydration across the school day.

For further information about the School’s Pledge, please get in touch here.