Healthy Croydon Briefing April 2007

Healthy School Awards
A further 20 Croydon schools have achieved healthy school status and received awards on Monday 26 March. There are four strands to the award: healthy eating; personal, social and health education; physical activity; and emotional health and well-being. School projects included a variety of sports activities being offered during the mandatory two hours of PE a week at Keston Primary; raffles at Fairchildes Primary where children receive a ticket if their lunch box contains a healthy choice such as a piece of fruit; and introduction of a school council at Monks Orchard Primary which has made decisions leading to an improvement in the eating environment. A total of 40 schools have now attained healthy school status.

New Croydon Council Chief Executive
Jon Rouse, 38, formerly chief executive of the Housing Corporation, has succeeded David Wechsler as Chief Executive of Croydon Council. He was previously Chief Executive of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, the Urban Task Force, English Partnerships and has also worked in the Department of the Environment as private secretary to the housing and local government minister. He said: “I hope to use my skills and experience in economic and social regeneration to help the council improve the borough’s town and neighbourhood centres, expand our housing and attract more jobs.” Council leader Cllr Mike Fisher said: “I believe we have identified a rising star in the public sector who, at a relatively young age, already has a strong record of achievement.” The appointment was ratified at a special meeting of the Council on Monday 26 March.