The growth of recent years continued in 2023. The structural, whole-school approach to a health topic such as Relationships and Sexuality is having a noticeable effect. Gezonde School also strengthened its collaboration with partner organisations and reinforced the network of Gezonde School advisers from the regional municipal public health services (GGDs). More and more Gezonde School coordinators are active in schools. Gezonde School supports them with advice and professional development. In this way, Gezonde School makes a healthy lifestyle a natural choice for pupils and students.

Some highlights of 2023

  • In 2023, the number of schools working with the Gezonde School approach rose further to 3,677 school locations, or 43% of the total number of schools in the Netherlands: 38% of all primary and special education schools, 63% of all secondary and special secondary education schools, and 44% of all secondary vocational education locations.
  • On average, 42% of schools working with the Gezonde School approach are schools with pupils who are more at risk than others of developing an unhealthy lifestyle.
  • In 2023, 1,805 school locations were awarded an incentive scheme. Never before had so many schools received an award. Because the number of applications for each scheme exceeded the available budget, award criteria were applied for each scheme.
  • The schools that received an award were supported by 378 Gezonde School advisers, who together form a nationwide network covering the 25 municipal public health services (GGDs). Schools are (very) satisfied with the support they receive.
  • Of the 342 municipalities in the Netherlands, 292, or 85%, have at least one school with a Gezonde School certificate.
  • The professional development programme for education professionals, Gezonde School advisers and youth healthcare professionals was deepened and broadened together with the knowledge partners. It now includes basic training for professionals starting out, as well as (sector-specific) topic-based training courses, webinars and peer consultation meetings for more experienced Gezonde School coordinators and advisers. Topics included ‘Media literacy’, ‘From resistance to support’ and ‘Embedding: continuing to work with the Gezonde School approach’.
  • Participants rate all training courses 7 or higher, with the new ones receiving ratings above 8.

Six strategic objectives for 2024

  • By the end of 2024, one third of all school locations* in the Netherlands will be working with the Gezonde School approach.
  • More and more schools in primary, special and secondary education and secondary vocational education will find inspiration and opportunities at Gezonde School to start working with the Gezonde School approach.
  • When schools work on health promotion, they do so in a planned, structural and integrated way, enabling them to continue their health promotion activities in the long term.
  • The network of professionals working on promoting the health of young people in or around schools will have grown, and the training offer for these professionals will have been optimised.
  • The Gezonde School programme will be more firmly embedded in local and regional health promotion policies and in the associated existing structures and networks.
  • By the end of 2024, the legitimacy of the programme—as the channel for reaching education when it comes to promoting a healthy lifestyle among pupils, students and staff—will have increased.

Read the public summary here.

Read the full progress report here.

Source: Gezonde School.