HEADTEACHERS across East Lancashire now have the chance to have their school officially designated a healthy one.

They are being asked to sign up to a programme which involves external assessment and, potentially, accreditation to the new National Healthy School Standard.

The Standard has eight key themes:

Personal, social and health education

Citizenship

Sex and relationship education

Drug education

Emotional health and wellbeing

Healthy eating

Physical activity

Schools Minister Catherine Ashton, who launched the scheme, said: "The Government is firmly committed to ensuring that all children reach their full potential. Healthy schools give children the skills and information they need to make important life and health choices.

"Children, teachers, parents and communities working together to improve the physical and emotional health of pupils raises the level of pupil achievement and improves standards.

It also makes schools a safe, secure and healthy environment in which young people can learn and develop."

Both Blackburn with Darwen and Lancashire education authorities have signed up to the healthy schools programme.