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As this is our first newsletter after the summer, we'd like to say 'Welcome back!' to all colleagues. We hope you had an enjoyable summer and are raring to go! We've got loads of things on offer this term, see below for more details. We want to be responsive to schools, so if there is something you would like to see that we don't currently offer, please get in touch achievewell@nottinghamcity.gov.uk.
Calling All Songwriters! Be Part of the Official RSE Day 2026 Song!
The Achieve Well Team, Nottingham Music Hub, and Challenge are teaming up to create a brand-new song for RSE Day 2026, and it’s going to be written and performed by Nottingham children and young people! The Nottingham Music Hub previously created the single "If Every Child Could" which was a great success.
The theme for the RSE Day song is: “It Starts with Me”. We want to hear children’s ideas about why it’s important to like and love yourself, and how that helps them to build positive relationships with others. To support children’s song-writing we have created some prompts on the RSE Day Song padlet. We are happy to receive one line, a full verse or a chorus around our theme, “It Starts with Me”. Every idea will be read and considered, please submit by the 3rd October 2025. Once we have the lyrics, we will be asking for melodies and chord structures (optional) to bring the song to life.
The finished song will be sung by Nottingham children and young musicians and professionally recorded in the Spring Term 2026. Timelines for the project can be found on the Padlet. We are hoping to have a collaborative sing of the song on RSE Day next year, 25 June. The song lyrics will be shared with schools across the country as part of the RSE Day resources.
This is a great opportunity for children to be part of a city-wide creative project that will be shared nationally. To get involved, please register your interest here. More information is available on the website and Padlet.
Join the Achieve Well Team at the Second Nottingham Healthy Child Conference, 27th November, 8:30am–3:45pm, Nottingham Hilton Gateway Hotel
Get ready for an inspiring day of learning, connection, and action at this FREE conference designed for senior leaders, Personal Development Leads, PSHE Leads, and teachers across Nottingham schools.
Why attend?
Dynamic Keynotes & Workshops including:
Ben Hurst (Beyond Equality) – Empowering boys and challenging stereotypes
Lizzie Brothers (Plan UK) – Creating a Period Proud school culture
Joshua Heyes (Lincoln University) – Tackling barriers to effective RSE
Olivia Richards (The Story Project) – Harnessing the power of storytelling in PSHE
Natasha Allergy Foundation
Explore the marketplace Connect with a vibrant mix of organisations offering tools, resources, and ideas to elevate your school’s health and wellbeing approach.
To get a feel for last year’s conference, watch our video. With only 25 places remaining for this year’s conference, click here to secure your place.
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Discover insights to improve your school’s PSHE and health and wellbeing provision
This autumn, Nottingham City Council’s Public Health Team is once again inviting schools to take part in the citywide Health and Wellbeing Survey, an opportunity to strengthen your school’s health and wellbeing provision for the 2025/26 academic year and beyond.
By participating between September and mid-November 2025, your school will gain clear, actionable data about the needs, experiences, and priorities of your pupils. Delivered by the Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU), the FREE survey focuses on Year 6 and Year 10 pupils, with optional inclusion of other year groups.
Why Take Part?
Evidence-Based Planning Get tailored insights to inform your PSHE curriculum, pastoral care, and whole-school wellbeing strategy, based on what your pupils actually need.
Save Time and Resources The survey is ready to go, takes just one hour, and is available electronically or on paper. No need to design your own tools or analyse complex data, it’s all done for you.
Demonstrate Impact Use your individualised report to show progress and impact to Ofsted, governors, and parents. It’s a ready-made way to support your school’s accountability and improvement plans.
Boost Your Achieve Well Award Journey The survey is a key part of the Achieve Well Health and Wellbeing Awards, helping schools to enhance their provision and celebrate success.
Free Teacher Resource Book As a thank-you for taking part, every participating school will receive a free health and wellbeing-themed resource book.
Ready to take part? Sign up here. More information is available on our website, including sample reports.
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During the Spring Term of 2025, we worked with pupils from 8 primary schools across Nottingham to hear their thoughts on how children can achieve the Nottingham Healthy Child Vision. The children shared a wide range of thoughtful ideas and these have been captured on a set of colourful posters for display in schools. The call to action on each poster helps children to engage and consider their own health and wellbeing. Thanks to children and staff from the schools involved: Nottingham Academy; Whitemoor Academy; The Fernwood School; Crabtree Farm Primary; Stanstead Flying High Academy; South Wilford Primary; Middleton Primary and Nursery and Claremont Primary and Nursery. You can download the posters to share in your settings here.
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Research shows that when children help lead projects like growing food, cooking, or creating healthy eating campaigns, it can lead to real improvements in physical health including better fitness and healthier weight. If you're thinking of doing something similar in your school, now’s the time. The Achieve Well Healthy Eating Grant is open until 28 November 2025 and only available this academic year.
Get out there, get thinking and explore what would make a difference in your school community. For inspiration and ideas, visit:
If you’d like to talk through an idea, the Achieve Well team is here to help. For more information on the Grant please visit our website.
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Get Up to Date and Get Ahead with RSHE Guidance 2026
Online briefings are available this term to help you understand the new RSHE Guidance 2025. Find out what has changed, what it means for your school and how to take action with confidence.
Event dates: 8 September 2025 – Online 18 September 2025 – Online
14 October 2025 - online
Join us to get the latest updates, practical tips and a clear plan for meeting the new requirements.
Secure your place today and be ready for 2026
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If you are reviewing your PSHE curriculum or want fresh ideas for the 25/26 academic year, these two short video sessions are a great place to start:
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Meaningful Assessment – Practical ways to make assessment purposeful, track real progress and celebrate pupils’ personal development.
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Building Life Skills – Strategies for embedding life skills across lessons and using effective teaching practices that stick.
Watch, reflect and see what could be strengthened in your approach. Share ideas with colleagues and take simple steps to make PSHE more relevant, engaging and impactful.
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Thriving Nottingham offer a FREE healthy lifestyle schools programme. Usually this is a 5-week programme covering Nutrition, Hydration, Movement, Mind and Sleep but can be tailored to what your school wants and needs. They also offer sessions at schools for parents and children. Get in touch with Kathryn Pyer at kathryn.pyer@thrivingnottingham.org.uk for more info or to book!
Worried about a child's weight?
Thriving Nottingham also offer FREE family healthy lifestyle and weight management programmes for families. Booking now for their final September groups. You can make referrals for families at their website or invite families to self-refer. www.thrivingnottingham.org.uk
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A comprehensive independent evaluation of Equation's Healthy Relationships programme has delivered compelling evidence that specialist relationship education creates safer schools and better-informed students. The evaluation, conducted by Curzon Consulting with partners from Nottingham Trent University and specialist research organisations, analysed data from over 6,600 student responses and extensive stakeholder interviews across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire schools.
What the Evidence Shows
The evaluation found dramatic improvements in student knowledge and confidence following Equation's programmes. Pre and post-session surveys revealed that students who initially couldn't identify healthy relationship behaviours dropped from 48% to just 7% after sessions. Perhaps most significantly, the number of students unable to name support services fell from 28% to 3%, with responses shifting from vague answers like "trusted adult" to specific organisations such as Childline and Women's Aid.
Teachers consistently reported increased safeguarding disclosures following sessions - a crucial indicator that students are developing the language and confidence to speak up about concerns. The evaluation specifically noted how Equation's specialist facilitators create "psychologically safe spaces" where difficult topics can be explored with trust and credibility.
Strategic Alignment and Practical Benefits
The evaluation confirms Equation's programmes align perfectly with the updated RSHE guidance (July 2025), which now includes mandatory content on misogyny and harmful online influences. Schools participating in the evaluation praised how external specialist delivery legitimises sensitive topics and supports staff confidence in addressing domestic abuse and unhealthy relationships.
The research found Equation successfully targets high-need schools, with participating schools showing higher levels of deprivation and domestic abuse notifications - demonstrating strong value for money in reaching vulnerable student populations.
Supporting Your School's Statutory Duties
Whether your school already works with Equation or you're exploring options for strengthening your RSHE provision, this evaluation provides robust evidence for investment in specialist relationship education. The programmes support schools in meeting statutory safeguarding requirements while building staff confidence through twilight training sessions.
The evaluation recommends schools embed these programmes into whole-school safeguarding strategies, noting particular effectiveness when integrated with existing pastoral and RSHE frameworks.
Next Steps
To discuss how Equation's evidence-based programmes could strengthen your school's approach to relationship education and safeguarding - and to explore flexible arrangements that work within your budget - contact Vanessa, Head of Service for Children and Young People: vanessa@equation.org.uk
The full evaluation report will be available via email from Vanessa and will be added to Equation's website shortly. www.equation.org.uk
The British Nutrition Foundation is inviting schools to take part in Snack-tember, a new campaign running throughout September to encourage pupils to explore, try, and make healthier, more sustainable snacks. Participating schools can access free, curriculum-linked resources including recipes, activity ideas, posters and parent guides. The campaign aims to support children in developing healthy snacking habits.
The RHS School Gardening team has a free Vertical Gardening guide to help you grow plants in small or unusual spaces. Using upcycled materials, pupils can create hanging planters and learn about sustainable food growing.Perfect for schools with limited outdoor space, this resource includes step-by-step instructions, curriculum links and tips to get started.
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Bring energy and fun to your school this September with National Fitness Day on the 18th of September. The free toolkit includes a planning guide, ready-to-use activity ideas and brand assets such as posters, banners and social media templates. Whether you run a quick “10@10” session or a whole-school event, these resources make it simple to get everyone moving.
Access here: www.nationalfitnessday.com/toolkit
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Kick off the school year with free, trusted resources from Educate Against Hate. Developed by the Department for Education and Home Office, the site helps schools, parents and pupils tackle extremism and build resilience. Find ready-to-use lesson plans, safeguarding advice, parent guides and activities that promote respect and British values. Share the link with staff and families today and make it part of your curriculum from the start.
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Notts County Football Foundation is offering Goals 4 Life, a fully funded programme designed to support young people aged 11 to 18. The sessions combine fun physical activities with interactive wellbeing workshops to help students build confidence, strengthen peer relationships and develop important life skills.
Each weekly session includes a workshop on topics such as goal setting, resilience and self-esteem, followed by inclusive multi-sport activities that put these ideas into practice. Each programme is co-created with each group to ensure it is engaging and relevant to your students’ needs.
Places are limited, so contact alex.toplis@nottscountyfoundation.org.uk to find out more or secure a place for your school.
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Join Modeshift’s Travel Wise Week, a global active travel challenge running from 16 to 22 September each year and coinciding with European Mobility Week. It’s the perfect time for teachers to lead by example and inspire pupils to think creatively about making their journeys to school more active and sustainable. |
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Bring online safety to life with Digital Matters, a free platform from Internet Matters. Teachers get full lesson packs, slides and activities on key topics like cyberbullying, privacy and wellbeing. Pupils learn through interactive stories and quizzes that make safe choices online easy to understand. Register today and share with families so learning continues at home.
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