Introduction

The last two decades have seen a growing focus within the UK on the ways in which schools might promote physical and mental health. From an initial concern with the physical and mental well-being of pupils, this has broadened to engage the wider school community, including teachers, classroom assistants, school meals providers, health workers and others working in and with schools. Yet more recently, through notions of the extended school, the National Healthy Schools Programme and in other ways, schools have been promoted as beacons for the engagement of entire communities in healthrelated work and activities (DCSF, 2008).