Somerset school ditch pop and fizzy drinks for water in new initiative
The Bridgwater College Academy has become the county's first official 'Water School'
In what's been dubbed a 'New Year's Resolution' for the students (and staff) at one school in Somerset, they've ditched pop and fizzy drinks for water.
Bridgwater College Academy School has become the county's first so-called 'Water School', an initiative which kicked off earlier this month in what's been called a 'Public Health Initiative' - all in a bid to improve their health and attainment.
The school hosted a launch event on January 5th, which saw Gold Heptathlete Seren Rodgers come down to give an inspirational talk about her experience of winning Gold at the England U20 Pentathlon event in 2022, stressing the importance of staying hydrated with water and maintaining a healthier lifestyle.
Children took part in a series of sporting activities delivered by Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) as well as trying out fresh fruit-infused water with fruit donated by a local supermarket.
'We're not the squash police!'
Assistant headteacher Helen Stone said: "We are certainly not being the 'squash police', but we're trying to make sure the children are able to make their own informed choice - which we're doing through our curriculum.
"This is a really great way to help them understand the importance of making healthy decisions - and there are so many ways to use water so it doesn't have to be boring! We're encouraging them to use water infused with mint, or fruit, for example."
The scheme's also said to have been making an impact on the staff, who've been taking on the challenge of drinking more water along with the pupils.
'Water Schools' is an initiative to encourage children in Somerset to make water their drink of choice, and is based on these main principles:
- Pupils only drink tap water while at school
- Parents do not need to provide drinks from home
- Teachers encourage children to drink water during the day
It's also said to have a number of benefits:
- Water and being hydrated is fundamental for attention, concentration, and memory - so vital for their learning
- Drinking water is beneficial for the kidneys, bladder and bowel, as well as for improving blood pressure and heart health, and even supporting muscle and joint movement
- Overconsumption of sugary drinks is one of the primary causes of tooth decay in young children, as well as representing a recognised risk factor for long-term diseases later in life
Helen added: "It’s a New Year and often a time for developing new habits. At Bridgwater College Academy, our New Years resolution is to drink more water.
"As teachers, we often see children struggling with toothache, unable to concentrate because they aren’t able to see a dentist for months, due to long waiting lists. By teaching the students the importance of drinking water, we want them to make healthy choices and drinking more water will aid their focus for learning, after all, knowledge is power."
'A terrific initiative'
Councillor Adam Dance, Lead Member for Public Health, Equalities and Diversity at Somerset Council said: "Overconsumption of sugary drinks is one of the primary causes of tooth decay in young children, as well as representing a recognised risk factor for long-term diseases later in life such as unhealthy weight, pre-diabetes, heart disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
"Water Schools is a terrific initiative to drive home the message about healthy water consumption and we would encourage all schools to take part. Water will help keep children well hydrated during the day as well as supporting their concentration and learning at school."
There are resources available on the Somerset Children and Young People website - where you can find out more about healthy eating.