Category: Case Study

Abbey Primary School in Neath Port Talbot is a strong example of how data from The School Health Research Network (SHRN) can move schools from data insight to action. Their SHRN school-level report revealed that learners in Years 3 to 6 had higher levels of digital device ownership and social media use compared to the Wales average. From this, the school recognised how early online engagement might influence areas such as emotional well-being, self-image, and digital literacy and decision-making, prompting questions about digital influence and resilience.

In response, the school initiated a learner-led investigation and project titled ‘Power and Influence in Digital Spaces’ placing learner voice at the heart of the process. This approach not only addressed digital well-being as a key health and well-being priority but also empowered learners to become critical thinkers and responsible digital citizens.

By embedding their SHRN data into planning and aligning with the principles of the Curriculum for Wales, Abbey Primary School strengthened its Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Well-being and created a culture where evidence informs action and learners lead the way.

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This case study shows how Ysgol Bro Taf used SHRN data to identify vaping as a growing concern and launched a whole-school response. This included updated policies, curriculum changes, and collaboration with families and public health partners. Learners played a key role through project-based learning and discussions on vaping’s impacts. Early signs show positive shifts in attitudes, with the school committed to building on this progress through continued data use and learner engagement.

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This case study show cases how Cogan Primary School effectively used SHRN data to identify and address key challenges faced by Year 6 pupils, including low self-esteem and difficulties in peer relationships.

With the support of their WNHWPS Healthy Schools Co-ordinator and an external organisation, the school introduced a targeted intervention to boost confidence, improve emotional awareness, and foster positive peer connections. Their collaborative approach and use of external resources have led to lasting benefits for their learners.

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Through the use of their School Health Research Network (SHRN) data and targeted interventions, Whitmore High School has made positive strides in enhancing learner health and well-being.

By analysing SHRN data, the school identified key areas for improvement and implemented specific strategies to address them, focusing their attention on learner fulfilment, school connectedness , and overall life satisfaction. These targeted interventions have led to improvements in learner health and well-being, demonstrating the school’s commitment to placing health and well-being at the forefront of its mission. As a result, learners are better equipped to thrive both in school and beyond, ensuring they have the best possible opportunity for success.

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This school case study is part of an ongoing series exploring innovative, evidence-informed practices based on SHRN data.

Case Study Outline

At Ysgol Aberconwy, the commitment to using SHRN data has encouraged a proactive and preventative approach to health and well-being, which has been at the heart of their efforts to support learners. By assessing key findings and trends, the school identified sleep as a significant priority. Using SHRN data to inform action planning and collaborating with both learners and external partners, the school has implemented a wide variety of initiatives to improve sleep quantity and quality and, in turn, enhance overall learner health. This case study outlines the steps they’ve taken to embed SHRN data into their self-evaluation and development plans and the positive impact it has had on the whole school community.

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In this case study, Huw Eifion Evans, Healthy School Co-ordinator for Conwy, demonstrates how infographics can effectively communicate insights from SHRN data to a broader audience. By using these visual tools, key findings are shared with learners, staff, parents/carers, and school governors, fostering a deeper understanding of health and well-being  across the school community.

An Introduction to Using SHRN Data Infographics

The Conwy Team has created infographics to help secondary schools present data from The SHRN Student Health and Well-being Survey in a way that is both accessible and engaging for everyone in the school community.

By using infographics and slide decks (a collection of slides used to support a presentation, such as MS PowerPoint), complex data is transformed into visually appealing and easy-to-understand formats. This makes it simpler for a wider range of stakeholders to grasp key insights and identify trends in learners’ health and well-being.

Using SHRN Data: Detailed Insights into Learners’ Health and Well-being

The SHRN Student Health and Well-being survey offers a comprehensive overview of learner health and well-being, covering topics which include physical activity, sleep, social media, and substance use. Schools find their individualised reports to be highly informative, providing rich, detailed data that offers valuable insights.

Read more about the benefits to schools here.

Schools greatly appreciate the breadth and depth of their SHRN data. While school health and well-being teams initially focus on understanding the full scope of findings, they also recognise the opportunity to highlight key messages and present the data in ways that maximise SHRN impact across schools.

Making Communication Easier with Infographics and Slide Decks

SHRN infographics, paired with a slide deck (e.g., MS PowerPoint), help schools effectively communicate key data in assemblies, meetings, lessons, and throughout the school environment. This ensures that important insights are shared clearly and engagingly, making it easier for everyone to understand and act on what they see.

The Benefits of Using Infographics

Since the introduction of infographics in Conwy Secondary Schools, engagement with SHRN data has increased significantly.

The infographics and slide deck make data more approachable, sparking curiosity and conversation among staff and learners. This engagement promotes a whole-school understanding of learner health and well-being.

Additionally, the infographics have encouraged schools to continue participating in The SHRN Student Health and Well-being Survey, recognising the data’s value for school-wide health and well-being insights.

How We Created the Infographics

Guided by good design principles focusing on clarity, simplicity, and functionality, we aimed for a clean and accessible style. We used high-contrast fonts and a mix of charts, icons, and graphs to make the data easy to understand and visually appealing for everyone.

We chose pie charts and icons because they present statistics clearly and engagingly. Feedback from health and well-being school leads helped us refine the design to ensure it was relevant and easy to use. We also included each school’s logo and branding to make the data feel familiar and foster a sense of ownership.

There are many free and easy-to-use design tools available for creating infographics, such as:

• Adobe Color: A tool for creating colour schemes.
• Canva: An easy-to-use graphic design platform.
• Flat Icon: A resource for free icons.
• Google Slides: A presentation tool that can be used for designing infographics.

(Please note – we wish to clarify that references to these products are not endorsements. Instead, we am sharing items that we have personally utilised and have proven to be effective. Our objective is to provide authentic insights based on our own experiences)

How Schools  use Infographics  

Conwy’s secondary schools have used the infographics creatively in a different ways:

• Informing the New Curriculum in Wales: Development and lesson plans.
• Embedding SHRN Data: Into the Whole-School Approach to Mental Health and Well-being framework.
• Supporting Learners’ Councils: Providing valuable data for discussions and initiatives.
• Displaying Around the School: In key areas such as staff rooms, noticeboards, and walkways.
• Presentations: For school governors and during learner assemblies.
• Sharing with Parents/Carers: Through social media and newsletters.

Key considerations to remember when using infographics  

Depth of Engagement: Schools should not rely solely on infographics but should explore the full data set for a complete understanding of their health and well-being landscape. Using infographics as an entry point to SHRN data helps the whole school community recognise their importance while encouraging further exploration of the complete data set.

Co-production with Learners: Involving learners in the creation of infographics  can empower them to take ownership of the information being shared. Active participation helps learners understand health and well-being topics better, encouraging them to think critically about the data. It also makes sure the infographic is relevant and connects with other learners.

Conclusion 

Using infographics has greatly increased interest and understanding of SHRN data across the school community. This project shows how effective visual learning tools can be in getting everyone involved.

Going forward, Conwy will use infographics more to help teachers and learners use data in interesting ways. They are also exploring new digital tools to improve learning; teamwork; critical thinking, and creativity. Such tools make information easier to access and more useful for everyone in the school and beyond. 

Read a SHRN blog written by Huw Eifion Evans, Infographics: Making Data Accessible and Engaging for Wider Audiences.