ABOUT
School Health UK
School Health UK has completely transformed lunchtimes in hundreds of primary schools across the United Kingdom, by feeding thousands of hungry minds and shaping the way in which lunchtimes contribute to school health since December 2016.
We have achieved this through our Better Lunchtimes Mark programme which targets all aspects of lunchtime and ensures school leaders are prioritising every component of the lunch provision and enhancing the experience of the whole school day.
Our successes have been recognised by both local and national media, and we are key stakeholders in parliamentary party groups on both school health and obesity, regularly contributing to key public health consultations. Our aspiration for feeding hungry minds is driven by our passion to promote children’s health and wellbeing and tackle childhood obesity by 2030, which we believe can be directly contributed to by ensuring as many children as possible across the country are consuming healthy and nutritious school meals and having a remarkable lunchtime experience.
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote sustained health and wellbeing in pupils across the country by providing children with the healthiest and most nutritious lunch experience in every single primary school across the country.
Our Values
Healthy food
Every child has the right to enjoy healthy, nutritious and delicious food.
Supportive lunchtime
Every child has the right to a calm, positive and supportive lunchtime environment which encourages social development and positive behaviours.
Develop
Every child has the right the explore, develop, and grow at lunchtime.
Paul Evans – Operations Director
Having worked with schools across the UK for over a decade in roles ranging from a teacher to a nutrition consultant with Public Health England – Paul now has 10+ years of experience in the Education and Health sector.
Having sat with 100+ head teachers and being a school governor himself – Paul knows the challenges schools face on a daily basis and, with this, has enabled a school led approach at the core of every visit made each day as part of our Better Lunchtimes programme!
Having been recognised for his efforts in the realms of Childhood obesity; he continues to contribute towards the ever growing and confronting sector in public health for both local and national media. Paul, the Vice Chairman for the British Obesity Society has taught, led and contributed to obesity and health projects and worked with over 200 education institutions on a consultancy basis for nearly a decade – demonstrating not only a wealth of knowledge and experience, but the ability to successfully implement innovative changes in the sphere of obesity improvement that has seen a dramatic progression at a national level.
Paul can be contacted at paul@schoolhealthuk.co.uk
Katie McAtamney – Executive Health Consultant
Katie, with a MSc in Health Psychology, has a huge passion for the health and obesity sector and a desire to really make a difference. Having already established herself by making an impact in countless schools across the United Kingdom, she has been invaluably involved in co-writing School Health UK’s evolving vision. As a Trustee for the British Obesity Society, she continues to contribute to local and national media on contemporary health issues and scientific research. Katie continues to be a key and influential member of the School Health UK team, alongside undertaking a funded PhD project exploring eating behaviours to further develop her understanding and experience, and ensure the provision of evidence-based practice to schools across the country.
Katie can be contacted at katie@schoolhealthuk.co.uk
Ruth Hill – Health Consultant
Ruth has 28 years of experience working in the NHS, as a nurse, midwife, school nurse, and health visitor. She also has 10 years of experience with public health and the healthy schools team as an obesity prevention co-ordinator; meaning Ruth is quite possibly our most experienced colleague!
Alongside being a qualified Forest Schools leader, Ruth leads cooking in the curriculum training – which she wrote herself and delivers to schools across the UK.
As previously a school government for over a decade, Ruth is hugely passionate and relentless in guaranteeing that everything that she does aligns with her core values of ensuring all children are given the opportunity to be as active and as healthy as they can possibly be!
Ruth can be contacted at ruth.hill@schoolhealthuk.co.uk
Dr. Frances Mason
Dr. Frances Mason is an experienced, registered nutritionist (AfN) specialising in weight management, obesity and behavioural change.
With over 10 years’ experience working in both the public and private sector, Frances has worked to improve the health and wellbeing in the population.
Working with large organisations, Frances has delivered numerous health interventions providing expertise and consultancy to promote health, whilst also contributing to inform and influence national policy and aid organisations to implement and embed health and wellbeing strategies.
Frances achieved her PhD in behavioural medicine, with her research published in the BMJ in 2018.
Frances now joins SHUK with a wealth of experience and a bubbling passion for the children’s health sector!
Frances can be contacted at frances.mason@schoolhealthuk.co.uk
Rachel Gallyot
Rachel has been a Headteacher and a Regional Director for a MAT looking after primary, secondary and special schools; she has written and delivered a range of professional development courses to support leaders with school improvement. She still regularly teaches and enjoys being part of school life! She recognises that lunchtimes form a key part of the school day and contribute hugely to the quality of both pupil and staff well-being. She is delighted to be working in collaboration with School Health UK.
Rachel can be contacted at Rachel.gallyott@schoolhealthuk.co.uk
Louise Payne – Company Nutritionist
As a registered public health Nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition, Louise has over ten years of experience and has worked with many different organisations including schools, nurseries, NHS, local authorities, government agencies, charities and within the food industry and now works as a freelance nutritionist and a lecturer in Food and Nutrition at University College Birmingham .
Louise has a vast knowledge in the contract catering and education sector in ensuring menus are in keeping with dietary requirements and the school food standards – whilst being cost efficient, varied and, more importantly, tasty!
Louise, with her infectious passion in the realms of children’s health and nutrition continues to manage content across our social media platforms whilst also contributing to local and national media. Louise can be contacted at: louise.payne@schoolhealthuk.co.uk
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