Health Education

Making Sense of Health (MSoH) is a comprehensive health education resource providing imaginative and impartial health education and training for teachers, parents and students in primary and secondary education, particularly at Key Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 within the National Curriculum.

The overall aims of the MSoH project are to:

• develop students' understanding of health issues;
• empower students to become informed patients and enable them to make educated health decisions;
• facilitate healthy lifestyle choices for children
• promote awareness of, and interest in, careers in healthcare;
• develop teachers' professional knowledge and practice in health education.

During 2006-2008, after an initial pilot the programme was rolled out to over 500 schools in England and Wales. The formal evaluation by the Open University, led by Professor Patricia Murphy, Director of Pedagogy, Learning and Curriculum Research Group, found clear evidence of attitudinal and behavioural change as well as changes in knowledge and understanding.

"My team at the Open University has been working closely with a school education programme called 'Making Sense of Health', which supports the national curriculum. We have formally evaluated the programme and have found clear evidence of being able to effect a change in attitude to drinking among young people.
Gains in learning about sex, body changes, and relationship issues were a positive outcome of the evaluation of the Puberty and Relationship resources. Many students reported increases in their comfort in talking about sensitive issues, and in their understanding of peer pressure and how to resist it."

Professor Patricia Murphy, Director, Pedagogy, Learning and Curriculum Research Group, The Open University

Concordia Health is now re-launching the Making Sense of Health programme within schools across the country. If you are interested to find out how this is aligned with the National Curriculum, details on the programme content and how it helps teachers, pupils and parents, please visit the MSoH website.