PUPILS and teachers at Westleigh High School - a college of Technology - are celebrating having received recognition for their work in raising achievement and improving health within their school community.

The school has gained accreditation for emotional health and wellbeing under the Wigan Healthy Schools programme - a local education and health initiative linked to the government's National Healthy School Standard (NHSS). Under the programme, Westleigh have worked with the PSHE&C Team to identify areas for development within emotional health and wellbeing and produced action plans involving everybody connected with the school, before having their progress evaluated by independent assessors.

Wigan Council's Healthy Schools Programme, Sue Elliot said: "Pupils, staff, governors and parents have all worked extremely hard to achieve accreditation for emotional health and wellbeing. Being involved in healthy schools has given Westleigh the edge in supporting their young people, motivating them, increasing their confidence and giving them the skills and information they need to make important life and health choices."

Nationally, schools involved with Healthy Schools programme have shown marked improvements in areas of pupil behaviour and standards or work.

Headteacher at Westleigh, John Banks, said: "Achieving Healthy schools status in emotional health and wellbeing will benefit our school and the wider community. We can build on our actions to help improve performance in academic and other areas, strengthen partnerships with other organisations in the healthcare field, and enhance our reputation and status within the community."

During the schools Healthy Schools process, Westleigh was particularly praised for the work on anti-bullying, teaching and learning and the work of the students school council.