RANDERSON BACKS HEALTH DRIVE AT CARDIFF SCHOOL

12.51.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th May 2007

BUPA Hospital Cardiff is going back to school to help put a greater emphasis on health education in the classroom.

The medical team has sponsored Cardiff High School to the tune of £500 so teachers can launch a new series of health education notice boards to be placed around the school.

It is part of a continuing drive to ensure that pupils have access to key information and advice to enable them to take a greater interest in their health.

The notice boards will tackle issues like health eating, drug & alcohol awareness, obesity, skin care and eating disorders.

Rob Anderson, general manager at BUPA Hospital Cardiff, said: "We are very keen to help Cardiff High School promote health education. So much of what we deal with could be prevented and these notice boards will be a great way to encourage children to take steps that will benefit their health for years to come."

Mike Griffiths, headteacher at Cardiff High School, said: "Raising awareness of health issues is an important part of the education we provide at our school. We are delighted that BUPA Hospital Cardiff is supporting us in ensuring that our pupils have access to the best and most up-to-date health information available."

The health education notice boards will be launched at Cardiff High School on the 18th of May by Jenny Randerson, Assembly Member for Cardiff and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health

Commenting Jenny Randerson said "It is a sad fact that for the first time we are facing the prospect of a lower life expectancy. It is urgent that we do all we can to promote health education and exercise.

"Lifestyle choices implemented at a young age can have far reaching health consequences so I look forward to launching the notice boards"

-End-

For further press information, please contact:

Tim Chilcott

BUPA Press Office

Tel: 020 7656 2545

Email: chilcott@bupa.co.uk

Michael Griffiths

Headteacher, Cardiff High School

Tel: 02029 757741

Email: M.D.Griffiths@cardiff.gov.uk

BUPA is the UK market leader in health and care with a strong international presence. Established in 1947, it has over 8 million customers in 190 countries and 46,000 employees. Its main interests are health insurance, hospitals, care homes for older people and young disabled, health assessments, workplace health and childcare services. BUPA Travel offers a bespoke travel insurance service. Sanitas in Spain, HBA in Australia, IHI in Denmark and AMEDEX in the US are all part of the BUPA Group which also has centres in Hong-Kong, Thailand and Saudi Arabia. BUPA reinvests all its surpluses back into the business and through Community Connections encourages its employees to play an active role within its local communities. The BUPA Foundation is an independent charity which funds medical research. BUPA Giving was established to mark the group's 60th anniversary in 2007 and supports the development of healthcare services and those who provide them.

Cardiff High School has 1447 pupils from the Lakeside, Cyncoed and Roath areas of north Cardiff, including 334 in the Sixth Form. Its mission statement focuses on developing all members of the school community: "To assist everyone in the school to fulfill their individual potential, discover new talents and develop a love for life-long learning". The school also has a Dyslexia Unit that is a specialist resource base serving the LEA.

The Estyn inspection of January 07 described the school as a "very good school with many outstanding features" and awarded seven Grade 1's, the maximum possible for a school inspection. The report praised the School for its "strong ethos of mutual support and respect that permeates the whole school and enables pupils and students to realise their potential….. Most pupils develop well-refined personal, social and learning skills and show very positive attitudes to their work. Their behaviour in lessons and around the school is exemplary."

Estyn defined the school's particular strengths as:

"• leadership of high quality that provides clear direction and promotes high standards;

• high expectations and a strong culture of achievement that is shared by all;

• high quality teaching and a culture of research which empowers staff at all levels to be innovative;

• very productive relationships between staff and pupils which impact positively upon learning"

• outstanding results in external examinations

In the 2006 GCSE examinations, :

• 80% of pupils gained at least five A*-C grades, well above the figure locally and nationally;

• 97% of pupils gained at least five A*-G grades, well above the local and national average;

• results have been consistently very good, placing the school in the top 25% of similar schools in Wales.

In 2006, at A level

• 83% of students achieved A-C grades in two or more Advanced (A) level

examinations, well above the national average of 68%;

• 98% of students achieved A-E grades in two or more A level examinations, above the national average of 94%;

• the average points' score for each student entering 2 or more subjects was well above local and national figures.

For more information about the school and to read the Estyn report: http://www.cardiffhigh.cardiff.sch.uk/