Schools shape not only what children learn but how they live and thrive. Yet, across Europe, school systems are struggling to respond to the growing challenges facing students: declining academic results, mental health concerns, physical inactivity, and widening inequality.

That’s why it’s time to go beyond individual lessons on health and integrate wellbeing into the very fabric of school life. The new Schools4Health policy brief, Why Invest in Health Promoting Schools, outlines why the Health Promoting School (HPS) approach is a crucial and cost-effective strategy to create healthier learning environments.

Highlights from the brief:

• Evidence that healthier students perform better academically and socially.
• A breakdown of the six core pillars of the HPS approach, including healthy environments, curriculum, and community links.
• Concrete examples from Spain, Romania, Slovenia, and other EU countries demonstrating how policy frameworks can support the adoption of HPS models.
• Practical calls to action for policymakers, school leaders, and practitioners.

Whether you’re in education, health, or policymaking, the brief makes a clear case: investing in whole-school health is investing in better futures for students, communities, and societies.

Read the full brief and explore how you can contribute to making every school a health promoting school.

For more information, visit www.schools4health.eu or reach out to us on LinkedIn.

Disclaimer: 
This project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor HaDEA can be held responsible for them.