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HAPPEN: The Health and Attainment of Pupils in a Primary Education Network / EMILY MARCHANT
Swansea University Author: EMILY MARCHANT
DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.56490
Abstract
A complex relationship exists between health and education, with evidence demonstrating the importance of childhood health and wellbeing on academic outcomes. However, prioritising health and wellbeing within the school setting has been a challenge due to curriculum pressures and a lack of collabora...
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Swansea
2020
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| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | Ph.D |
| Supervisor: | Brophy, Sinead; Lyons, Ronan |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa56490 |
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| Abstract: |
A complex relationship exists between health and education, with evidence demonstrating the importance of childhood health and wellbeing on academic outcomes. However, prioritising health and wellbeing within the school setting has been a challenge due to curriculum pressures and a lack of collaboration. To address these shortfalls, a primary school network, HAPPEN (Health and Attainment of Pupils in a Primary Education Network) was established. The overarching aim of this thesis is to develop HAPPEN, a network combining multidisciplinary expertise through a unified system of education, health and research specialists, using an action research model. This thesis examines whether HAPPEN can act as a platform to evaluate interventions in the school setting and disseminate evidence-based learning. This is presented through published research in Study 1; a qualitative analysis of curriculum-based outdoor learning and Study 2; a mixed-methods evaluation of The Daily Mile. This thesis also examines if HAPPEN can be used for observational epidemiology by identifying the factors associated with educational attainment. Study 3 presents the association between social, lifestyle and epidemiological factors with attainment at age 10-11 using linked health, educational and survey data. The final chapter presents a critical reflection of the development, scalability and sustainability of HAPPEN. Following an annual process of observation, reflection, planning and implementation, HAPPEN has expanded to a national primary school network and knowledge exchange infrastructure for schools and health professionals in Wales. The research through HAPPEN has demonstrated local, national and international impact and demonstrates the important contribution this thesis provides to the understanding of health and education. In conclusion, HAPPEN fills an important gap in the provision of a synergistic health and education tool for primary schools. |
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| Item Description: |
ORCID identifier https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9701-5991 |
| Keywords: |
primary schools, schools, school health, curriculum, education, educational attainment, data linkage, school-based programmes, school-based interventions, network, public health |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |