SHINE National Network Conference 2024

The 5th annual SHINE National Network Event took place in Clarice Pears on Thursday 2nd May, with the theme ‘Using health and wellbeing evidence in school improvement planning to support positive health outcomes for young people”. Around 95 teachers, researchers, PhD students and education policy professionals attended.

Colleagues from the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, as well as the Universities of Oxford and Edinburgh provided excellent insights into their research and were able to network with teachers to discuss future projects and invite participation.

Dr Tessa Reardon, Oxford University, set the tone for the day by explaining how research methods had been used to identify and minimise anxiety in young children working with primary schools and parents/carers. Dr Jo Inchley and Dr Judith Brown (SHINE) provided an excellent overview of the national and international evidence gathered through the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Survey 2022. Professor Kirstin Mitchell presented initial findings from the Equally Safe at School (ESAS) Study which aims to prevent Gender-based Violence, followed by an excellent case study from Selkirk High School who are using the ESAS programme. A second case study from Bishopbriggs Academy explained the SHINE Mental Health survey data report is being used to plan improvements in mental health and wellbeing, with excellent inputs from 4 pupil Mental Health Ambassadors.

The SHINE team led interactive sessions and discussions to promote collaboration between schools and health researchers and an understanding of how research expertise can support an evidence-based approach to improvement planning in schools. The day ended with a chance for teachers to trial a new classroom resource exploring the power of data linkage from the Generation Scotland team led by Professor Heather Whalley.

We thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet network members and research colleagues to share ideas and practice. We look forward to next year.