Order Publications
Latest Issue
Previous SHEUNews:
February 2006
September 2005
February 2005
October 2004
March 2004
November 2003
May 2003
November 2002
SHEUNews - February 2005
An occasional newsletter about our services
SHEU provides research, publications and survey services for those concerned with the healthy development of young people including: LEAs, StHAs, PCTs, DATs, NHSS schemes, Children’ Fund projects, Community groups, Teachers, Health Professionals, Govt. and Univ. depts., and the media.
EVERY CHILD MATTERS survey
SHEU are working with a local authority on our 'Every Child Matters' survey. This is a survey of parents, children and young people from every school in the county. The survey has six key areas:
1. Being Healthy
2. Staying Safe
3. Enjoying and Achieving
4. Economic Well-Being
5. Inclusion
6. Making a Positive Contribution
The questionnaire is four pages with a simple tick-box design that can be readily completed by everyone.
We do recommend that a teacher read aloud through the survey with primary pupils and comment if appropriate to clarify the meaning of the questions.
Each school receives a set of tables and a comparative report which shows their profile of results in the context of other schools in the area.
CHANGE FOR CHILDREN Regional Workshops
The DfES has joined together with the nine Government Offices, Health and other government departments to jointly deliver a series of regional events. For information, including venues, visit www.everychildmatters.co.uk/events
The first workshop is in the North East Region in early February and the workshops end in April at a London Region venue. SHEU will have a presence at each workshop through a poster display with accompanying literature. If you are able to attend then please give us a look, read our blurb, visit the website and contact us via telephone (01392 667272).
Supporting the HEALTH YOUNG PEOPLE in your area
Unique databank
Your delivery of "Change for Children" can be supported by SHEU's services:
Primary Care Trusts in England, Local Health Care Co-operatives in Scotland and Local Health Boards in Wales use SHEU services because they:
Traditionally, SHEU surveys take place in primary and secondary schools and in the recent past took place in:
The Health Related Behaviour Questionnaire databank has answers from:
Surveys large and small
Please consider that the local nature of our services can often mean that we work with small numbers of schools. Here are examples of three recent surveys:
Online Activity Survey
The Schools Health Education Unit has five partnerships across England currently using an adapted version of the Fit to Succeed online activity survey.
The survey is to monitor the Out of School Hours Learning (OSHL) projects funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
For more information see the webpage.
SHEU provides research, publications and survey services for those concerned with the healthy development of young people including: LEAs, StHAs, PCTs, DATs, NHSS schemes, Children’ Fund projects, Community groups, Teachers, Health Professionals, Govt. and Univ. depts., and the media.
EVERY CHILD MATTERS survey
SHEU are working with a local authority on our 'Every Child Matters' survey. This is a survey of parents, children and young people from every school in the county. The survey has six key areas:
1. Being Healthy
2. Staying Safe
3. Enjoying and Achieving
4. Economic Well-Being
5. Inclusion
6. Making a Positive Contribution
The questionnaire is four pages with a simple tick-box design that can be readily completed by everyone.
We do recommend that a teacher read aloud through the survey with primary pupils and comment if appropriate to clarify the meaning of the questions.
Each school receives a set of tables and a comparative report which shows their profile of results in the context of other schools in the area.
CHANGE FOR CHILDREN Regional Workshops
The DfES has joined together with the nine Government Offices, Health and other government departments to jointly deliver a series of regional events. For information, including venues, visit www.everychildmatters.co.uk/events
The first workshop is in the North East Region in early February and the workshops end in April at a London Region venue. SHEU will have a presence at each workshop through a poster display with accompanying literature. If you are able to attend then please give us a look, read our blurb, visit the website and contact us via telephone (01392 667272).
Supporting the HEALTH YOUNG PEOPLE in your area
Unique databank
Your delivery of "Change for Children" can be supported by SHEU's services:
- Only SHEU's survey services with young people can provide you with baseline data reports supported by figures from our databank
- Results enable you to examine the data from your children and young people in relation to youngsters of the same age and gender in the wider area
- This process helps to prioritise needs and improve outcomes for children and young people
Primary Care Trusts in England, Local Health Care Co-operatives in Scotland and Local Health Boards in Wales use SHEU services because they:
- provide baseline data about the health related behaviour of children and young people in their area
- work in partnership with other agencies, e.g. Children's Fund, NHSS, DATs and the Police, using the survey results to provide a rich source of information
Traditionally, SHEU surveys take place in primary and secondary schools and in the recent past took place in:
- Swindon, Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Guernsey, Dudley, Worcestershire, Manchester, Lancashire, Bradford, Sunderland, Derwent, Hertfordshire, Luton, Solihull, Camden, Lambeth, Lewisham, East Sussex and Southwark
- Other surveys take place in a variety of settings including further education establishments
The Health Related Behaviour Questionnaire databank has answers from:
- Over 660,000 children and young people in over 5,500 schools across the UK
Surveys large and small
Please consider that the local nature of our services can often mean that we work with small numbers of schools. Here are examples of three recent surveys:
- Bedford survey involved 1,577 young people from 16 middle and upper schools
- Knowsley survey involved 2,328 young people from 34 primary and 7 secondary schools
- Dudley survey involved 10,414 young people from 76 primary, 19 secondary and 3 special schools
Online Activity Survey
The Schools Health Education Unit has five partnerships across England currently using an adapted version of the Fit to Succeed online activity survey.
The survey is to monitor the Out of School Hours Learning (OSHL) projects funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
For more information see the webpage.
Schools Health Education Unit
Repeat Survey Strategies
A 15-year school survey programme has been carried out in one commissioning authority. The results have been compared to SHEU's databank. Changes in the recorded levels of young smokers (based on the percentage that smoked at least one cigarette during the previous week) are shown in this webpage. They show an overall increase in the percentage of 'smokers' among the Year 8 and 10 respondents.
The webpage also shows a chart that represents the percentages for the same year groups, in the same calendar years, obtained from the SHEU databank. It can be seen how closely the general area trends match those seen in the much larger annual sample. This unique comparison enables authorities to prioritise needs and improve outcomes for children and young people.
Healthy Colleges
SHEU has successfully piloted survey questionnaires suitable for use in the Further and Higher Education sectors. After seeing the benefits of the Healthy Schools initiative, it's natural to want to explore what can be done in institutions with post-16 provision.
The questionnaire has a similar range of content to the school questionnaires, but looks a little more frankly at issues around sexuality and around mental health, and includes topics that are relevant to post-16 year olds, like housing and debt. It is of particular interest to colleges involved in the Healthy Colleges Network where we are trialling an online version.
Readers may be familiar with the 'Trends' series of reports from SHEU. Topics covered to-date include:
Summary - When looking over the figures since 1987, we find that young people in recent years are more likely to
A visit to $$$ will provide further details, examples of each report and a full publications list with generous discounted prices. Buy 5 Trend reports for £25 instead of £55.
Education and Health
Each quarter, SHEU publishes the journal ‘Education and Health’. Since 1983 it has attracted contributors from around the world. Subscribers enjoy an eclectic mix of articles and research of relevance to those concerned with the healthy development of young people.
Some articles that have appeared in previous editions are now available as free downloads on our website. This has resulted in more people from across the world accessing 'Education and Health'. Since the development of our website 'Education and Health' we have published articles form Australia and New Zealand and we anticipate publishing further articles from North America, Europe and Africa.
In the last five years most articles have contained around 4000 words and in some cases, contributors would have preferred more space. With page re-design and greater publicity more contributors are providing shorter articles. This will increase the variety of published topics and introduce new contributors to the readership.
The individual annual subscription for 2005 has increased by £2 and is now £20 for four issues (£5 per issue including p&p). Those wishing to purchase more for bulk distribution will find that the cost of each issue could be as little as 40p (incl. p&p), details from 01392 667272. Please email the editor (david.mcgeorge@sheu.org.uk) if you are interested in publishing in the journal.
National Healthy School Scheme evaluation
The report, 'Evaluation of the impact of the National Healthy School Standard', described the Health Related Behaviour Questionnaire, from SHEU, as "the most fruitful of databases derived from pupil surveys". An extract of the report, written in 2004, by the NFER and the Thomas Coram Research Unit is available here.
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON DRUGS
Drug Action Teams are always interested in results from SHEU surveys and many of them have contributed to survey commissioning budgets. We have recently been asked to put together a different version of the questionnaire that has a special emphasis on drugs.
As well as our standard questions about smoking, drinking, alcohol and the knowledge and experience of illegal drugs, we have included extra questions on:
RUNNING YOUR SCHOOL SURVEY
What is involved?
In order to ensure a smooth running of your survey in schools, SHEU provides a unique service and undertakes to support you in the following ways:
For the organiser
Model letters - We supply your with model letters to engage with local partners. For example, we have a letter of invitation from a Director of Public Health to local Headteachers, inviting them to take part in a survey. For headteachers, there is a letter they can send to parents, informing them about the survey and requesting information.
Local contacts - SHEU has a network of contacts throughout the UK and may be able to put you in touch with people local to you who might be interested in supporting survey work.
Provision of paper questionnaires
School packages - Blank questionnaires are sent direct to schools together with Collecting Good Data Manuals. Return labels for completed scripts are supplied and SHEU can also arrange for collection of completed scripts.
Supervising teachers - You are provided with a sheet of guidelines for survey administration survey and a feedback sheet. Introductory seminar - Teachers attend a 'Collecting Good Data' seminar, led by SHEU, to talk through the data collection process.
Telephone support - Local coordinators can be supported by SHEU to enlist schools and to chase them for the return of completed paper questionnaires if necessary.
What do my schools receive and what's their commitment?
Schools' commitment
IF YOU WOULD LIKE A HARDCOPY OF SHEUNews PLEASE email DAVID MCGEORGE with YOUR NAME & POSTAL ADDRESS...Thank you.
Repeat Survey Strategies
A 15-year school survey programme has been carried out in one commissioning authority. The results have been compared to SHEU's databank. Changes in the recorded levels of young smokers (based on the percentage that smoked at least one cigarette during the previous week) are shown in this webpage. They show an overall increase in the percentage of 'smokers' among the Year 8 and 10 respondents.
The webpage also shows a chart that represents the percentages for the same year groups, in the same calendar years, obtained from the SHEU databank. It can be seen how closely the general area trends match those seen in the much larger annual sample. This unique comparison enables authorities to prioritise needs and improve outcomes for children and young people.
Healthy Colleges
SHEU has successfully piloted survey questionnaires suitable for use in the Further and Higher Education sectors. After seeing the benefits of the Healthy Schools initiative, it's natural to want to explore what can be done in institutions with post-16 provision.
The questionnaire has a similar range of content to the school questionnaires, but looks a little more frankly at issues around sexuality and around mental health, and includes topics that are relevant to post-16 year olds, like housing and debt. It is of particular interest to colleges involved in the Healthy Colleges Network where we are trialling an online version.
Readers may be familiar with the 'Trends' series of reports from SHEU. Topics covered to-date include:
- Young People and Food
- Young People and Smoking
- Young People and Alcohol
- Young People and Emotional Health and Well-Being (including Bullying)
- Young People and Physical Activity
Summary - When looking over the figures since 1987, we find that young people in recent years are more likely to
- report exercising vigorously three times or more 'in the last week' (1995-2003)
- play soccer and basketball in their own time or school clubs
- go jogging and dancing (females only)
- play on a skateboard (males only) (1991-2003)
- take part in pub/club sports (1991-2003)
- think they are unfit
A visit to $$$ will provide further details, examples of each report and a full publications list with generous discounted prices. Buy 5 Trend reports for £25 instead of £55.
Education and Health
Each quarter, SHEU publishes the journal ‘Education and Health’. Since 1983 it has attracted contributors from around the world. Subscribers enjoy an eclectic mix of articles and research of relevance to those concerned with the healthy development of young people.
Some articles that have appeared in previous editions are now available as free downloads on our website. This has resulted in more people from across the world accessing 'Education and Health'. Since the development of our website 'Education and Health' we have published articles form Australia and New Zealand and we anticipate publishing further articles from North America, Europe and Africa.
In the last five years most articles have contained around 4000 words and in some cases, contributors would have preferred more space. With page re-design and greater publicity more contributors are providing shorter articles. This will increase the variety of published topics and introduce new contributors to the readership.
The individual annual subscription for 2005 has increased by £2 and is now £20 for four issues (£5 per issue including p&p). Those wishing to purchase more for bulk distribution will find that the cost of each issue could be as little as 40p (incl. p&p), details from 01392 667272. Please email the editor (david.mcgeorge@sheu.org.uk) if you are interested in publishing in the journal.
National Healthy School Scheme evaluation
The report, 'Evaluation of the impact of the National Healthy School Standard', described the Health Related Behaviour Questionnaire, from SHEU, as "the most fruitful of databases derived from pupil surveys". An extract of the report, written in 2004, by the NFER and the Thomas Coram Research Unit is available here.
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON DRUGS
Drug Action Teams are always interested in results from SHEU surveys and many of them have contributed to survey commissioning budgets. We have recently been asked to put together a different version of the questionnaire that has a special emphasis on drugs.
As well as our standard questions about smoking, drinking, alcohol and the knowledge and experience of illegal drugs, we have included extra questions on:
- Drunkenness and risky behaviour
- Worries about smoking drinking and illegal drugs
- Main source of drugs information
- Cannabis and the law
- Access to illegal drugs
- Anti-social behaviour
RUNNING YOUR SCHOOL SURVEY
What is involved?
In order to ensure a smooth running of your survey in schools, SHEU provides a unique service and undertakes to support you in the following ways:
For the organiser
Model letters - We supply your with model letters to engage with local partners. For example, we have a letter of invitation from a Director of Public Health to local Headteachers, inviting them to take part in a survey. For headteachers, there is a letter they can send to parents, informing them about the survey and requesting information.
Local contacts - SHEU has a network of contacts throughout the UK and may be able to put you in touch with people local to you who might be interested in supporting survey work.
Provision of paper questionnaires
School packages - Blank questionnaires are sent direct to schools together with Collecting Good Data Manuals. Return labels for completed scripts are supplied and SHEU can also arrange for collection of completed scripts.
Supervising teachers - You are provided with a sheet of guidelines for survey administration survey and a feedback sheet. Introductory seminar - Teachers attend a 'Collecting Good Data' seminar, led by SHEU, to talk through the data collection process.
Telephone support - Local coordinators can be supported by SHEU to enlist schools and to chase them for the return of completed paper questionnaires if necessary.
What do my schools receive and what's their commitment?
Schools' commitment
- Support from head and senior management
- Identify coordinator for the survey
- Attend briefing session 'Collecting Good Data'
- Notify parents (example letters provided)
- Give up an hour of curriculum time
- Share the results with colleagues
- Support from local coordinators and SHEU
- Book of tables of results from the questionnaire
- Comparative report to identify priorities
- Individual feedback to pupils (optional)
- Book of suggestions on how to use the data
IF YOU WOULD LIKE A HARDCOPY OF SHEUNews PLEASE email DAVID MCGEORGE with YOUR NAME & POSTAL ADDRESS...Thank you.