Supporting the Health and Wellbeing of Young People in A summary report of the Health Related Behaviour Survey 2018

These results were collected from a questionnaire appropriate for their Cross-phase links sample of primary pupils aged 9 to age group. Many of the questions in each 11 and secondary pupils aged 12 to Year 5 and Year 6 pupils completed version of the questionnaire are 15 in Watford in the spring/summer the primary version of the identical or very similar. Some of terms of 2018. questionnaire. Pupils in Years 8 and the results of these questions are This work was commissioned and 10 completed the secondary presented on page 4 of this co-ordinated by Public Health with version of the questionnaire. All document, so that behaviour can Services for Children and Young were undertaken anonymously. be seen across the age range. People. The data will be used to Completed questionnaires were support health promotion activity then returned to SHEU in Exeter for Other reports across and other processing. An overall Hertfordshire report County Council work with children and 4 themed reports are A total of 4976 pupils took part in 35 and young people. Teachers were available to accompany this set of primary schools and 12 secondary informed on how to collect the district reports. schools in Hertfordshire. The wider most reliable data and then pupils Hertfordshire results are shown in completed a version of the brackets after each statement.

4976 young people were involved in the survey: TOPICS INCLUDE: Watford Hertfordshire School Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Year Background Year 5 6 8 10 Total 5 6 8 10 Total Age 9-10 10-11 12-13 14-15 9-10 10-11 12-13 14-15 Healthy Eating Boys 93 93 ** ** 186 487 657 833 613 2590 Girls 101 76 ** ** 177 511 630 707 463 2311 Physical Activity Total 194 169 ** ** 363 998 1287 1577* 1114* 4976*

*75 pupils didn't tell us their gender. Drugs, Alcohol & Smoking Reference sample Watford data have been compared with the wider Hertfordshire results. A Relationships & Sexual Health selection of some of the differences, where the level seen in the Watford data is significantly different to that seen in the wider Hertfordshire data, are listed on pages 3 and 5 of this report. A separate report compares the entire Emotional Health & Wellbeing Hertfordshire data with the SHEU wider database. Confidence intervals (at 95%) for Watford data are, at worst, primary ±4.8. Safety **NB. Only a small sample of secondary aged pupils were surveyed in Watford so these have been suppressed/replaced with overall Herts results where appropriate. School & Career

For more details please contact SHEU Tel. (01392 667272) or visit the website www.sheu.org.uk Leisure & Money Watford primary school DRUGS, ALCOHOL & SMOKING Drugs pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 � 65% (68%) of pupils reported that they would like their parents to talk to them about drugs while 41% (37%) said (ages 9 - 11) they would like it to come from their teachers. � 34% (69%) of pupils describe themselves as White. 23% � 18% (11%) say they are ‘fairly sure’ or ‘certain’ they know (62%) describe themselves as White British. 42% (11%) someone who uses drugs (not as medicines), in the area describe themselves as Asian, 8% (7%) describe themselves where they live. as Mixed and 8% (4%) describe themselves as Black. Alcohol � 79% (76%) of pupils live with their mother and father together; 14% (13%) live with one parent and 2% (5%) live � 2% (5%) of boys and ‘shared’ between both parents. 1% (2%) of girls said � 4% (3%) of primary pupils said that they had a physical that they drank an disability and 6% (6%) said they had a special educational alcoholic drink on at need or learning difficulty. least one day in the week before the HEALTHY EATING survey. � 3% (2%) had nothing to eat or drink for breakfast on the day of the survey. 93% (89%) had their breakfast at home. � 44% (41%) of pupils had cereal for breakfast, 9% (10%) had � 86% (79%) of pupils say that they don’t drink alcohol. 2% sugar-coated cereals and 26% (30%) toast or bread on the (1%) of pupils reported that their parents ‘never’ or only morning of the survey. ‘sometimes’ know if they drink alcohol. � Pupils were asked to identify, from a list, the foods which � 11% (18%) of pupils reported that their parents always they ate ‘on most days’. 75% (74%) of pupils said they have knew if they drank alcohol. fresh fruit and 54% (67%) said vegetables. 21% (22%) said crisps and 15% (19%) said sweets. � 1% (1%) of pupils drank beer or lager and 0% (1%) said � 44% (44%) of pupils said that they ‘rarely or never’ ate fish wine/champagne in the week before the survey. or fish fingers. 21% (27%) said they ‘rarely or never’ had Smoking salads. � 98% (99%) of pupils said they have never smoked a � 39% (36%) of pupils had eaten 5 or more portions of fruit cigarette. and vegetables on the day before the survey, 6% (5%) had eaten none. � 2% (1%) of boys and 2% (1%) of girls said they had tried smoking in the past or smoke now. � 45% (50%) drank between 1 and 5 cups of water on the day before the survey, 54% (48%) said they drank a litre or � 4% (2%) of pupils said that they have used an e-cigarette. more while 2% (2%) said they drank none. � 28% (25%) of pupils said their parents/carers smoke. 7% Dental Care (5%) of pupils report that people smoke indoors at home in rooms that they use and 7% (5%) said people smoke in a � 81% (85%) of pupils reported that they cleaned their teeth car when they are in it. at least twice on the day before the survey (the recommended frequency). 1% (1%) said they did not clean � 30% (27%) of pupils said that, in their home, smoking only their teeth at all the day before the survey. happens outside or in certain rooms. 3% (1%) say that � 70% (77%) of pupils had visited the dentist in the past 6 smokers can smoke anywhere. months. 5% (2%) of pupils said they have never been to the dentist. PUBERTY & GROWING UP � When asked who the pupils would like to talk to them PHYSICAL ACTIVITY about growing up and body changes, the responses from a � 87% (85%) of pupils reported that list are ranked below: they enjoyed physical activities Boys Girls ‘quite a lot’ or ‘a lot’. Parents/carers 80% Parents/carers 90% � 89% (91%) said they find it Doctor 55% Doctor 47% ‘quite easy’ or ‘very easy’ to be as physically active as they Teachers 35% Teachers 35% like at playtimes. 3% (2%) find School Nurse 21% School Nurse 13% it ‘not at all easy’. Visitors in lessons 10% Visitors in lessons 6% � 75% (76%) reported that they had exercised three times or more, in the last week, which made them breathe harder � 24% (22%) of boys and 34% (28%) of girls reported that and faster. 37% (42%) said five times or more. they worried ‘quite often’ or ‘very often’ about the way they � The top four physical activities were: looked. 29% (20%) of boys and 32% (26%) of girls said they worried ‘quite often’ or ‘very often’ about growing up. Boys Girls � 58% (64%) feel that they know enough, 30% (27%) are not Running for exercise 72% Going for walks 72% sure and 12% (9%) say they don’t know enough about how Football 70% Running for exercise 64% their body changes as they get older. Keep-fit 68% Dancing/gymnastics 56% Going for walks 61% Keep-fit 53% (The table shows the percentage of pupils taking part in physical activity at least weekly) 2 EMOTIONAL HEALTH & WELLBEING � 59% (46%) of boys and 65% (48%) of girls spent time doing homework on the evening before the survey. � 39% (45%) of boys � 97% (96%) of pupils said they had spent time and 37% (39%) of chatting/talking during playtimes (including dinner times). girls had high self- 90% (90%) said they played running/skipping/games of tag. esteem scores. � 79% (73%) of pupils said that in their school people with � 8% (6%) of pupils different backgrounds were valued. had low self-esteem � 82% (81%) said that their school encouraged everyone to scores. take part in decisions e.g. school council. � 69% (62%) said that their school encouraged them to contribute to community events. � 89% (84%) of pupils said they worried about at least one of the items listed in the questionnaire at least ‘quite often’. LEISURE & MONEY � The top 6 worries for Year 6 pupils were as follows: � After school yesterday, 71% (70%) of pupils spent time Boys Girls watching television. 57% (55%) played with friends, 56% Family 49% Moving on to 51% (51%) played computer games and 64% (56%) read a book secondary school for pleasure. Death 43% SATs/tests 46% � 56% (54%) played sport on the evening before the survey. 56% (53%) used the Internet and 28% (35%) went to a Moving on to 40% Death 43% club. secondary school The environment 36% Family 41% � 51% (40%) of pupils said they read quietly at playtimes at least sometimes while 61% (64%) said they are a SATs/tests 35% War and terrorists 34% playground pal/buddy. War and terrorists 31% Falling out with friends 34% � The main items that pupils spent money on during the � When asked who they would like to talk to them about previous week were: death, loss and sadness 88% (88%) said their parents/carers Boys Girls and 74% (72%) said another family member; 57% (59%) Computer games etc. 34% Sweets, chocolate, etc 33% said friend. Sweets, chocolate, etc 32% School pens etc. 25% SAFETYYING SAFE School pens etc. 24% Books 23% � 7% (7%) of pupils reported that they felt afraid of going to Fizzy drinks (not diet) 21% Toys 22% school because of bullying ‘often’ or ‘very often’. 21% (26%) said ‘sometimes’ while 72% (67%) said ‘never’. SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN � When asked if they had ever been bullied at school, 39% (45%) of primary pupils said ‘yes’; 7% (8%) said this had THE WATFORD SAMPLE AND THE happened in the past 4 weeks. WIDER HERTFORDSHIRE 2018 SAMPLE � 68% (64%) think their school deals with bullying at least For most of the questions in the questionnaire, Watford ‘quite well’ or was not a problem in their school. primary pupils give similar responses to the wider Herts data. � 15% (16%) of pupils said that they had been bullied when Some differences (more than 5%) include: they were not in school; 4% (3%) said it had happened in � 23% of Watford pupils said they were White British the past 4 weeks. compared with 62% of the wider Hertfordshire sample. � 23% (22%) of pupils reported that they thought they were � 62% of Watford primary pupils did homework after bullied because of the way they looked and 15% (15%) school on the day before the survey compared with 47% because of their size or weight. of the wider Hertfordshire sample. � 12% (8%) thought they were bullied because of their colour � 50% of Watford primary pupils ‘quite’ or ‘very’ often or race and 9% (6%) because of their religion or faith. worry about SATs/tests compared with 37% of the wider � 25% (27%) of pupils reported that an adult, who scared or Hertfordshire sample. made them upset, had approached them. 13% (15%) said � 68% of Watford primary pupils walked to school on the they knew this person. day of the survey compared with 55% of the wider � 9% (10%) of pupils said they told an adult straight away Hertfordshire sample. while 7% (8%) said they kept it to themselves. 3% (2%) told � 54% of Watford primary pupils eat vegetables ‘on most the police. days’ compared with 67% of the wider Hertfordshire � 92% (89%) of pupils said that they have been taught how to sample. keep safe while chatting online. � 35% of Watford primary pupils would like their teachers � 19% (27%) of pupils said they use social networking sites to talk with them about growing up and body changes in like Facebook, Snapchat etc. school lessons compared with 24% of the wider Hertfordshire sample. SCHOOL � 34% of Watford primary pupils would like their teachers to talk with them about death, loss and sadness in school � 92% (90%) of pupils think it is lessons compared with 24% of the wider Hertfordshire important to go to school sample. regularly. 91% (94%) of pupils say that if they are away from � 16% of Watford primary pupils chat to people online school for any reason, their that they have never met compared with 10% of the parents/carers always know. wider Hertfordshire sample.

3 Pyramid data: Questions ALCOHOL Have you had an alcoholic drink in the week before included in both the primary the survey? � 1% (3%) of the Year 6 pupils had an alcoholic drink in the and secondary versions of week before the survey. 8% of Year 8 and 30% of Year 10 the 2018 questionnaire pupils said the same. Cross-phase data The following is a selection of data relating to the set of questions found in the primary and secondary versions of the questionnaire. It is always interesting to see how young people change as they grow up. N.B. The secondary data shown is the wider Hertfordshire data as insufficient Watford secondary data is available in 2018.

HEALTHY EATING Year 6 Year 8 Year 10 Five a day? � Secondary school pupils are less likely to say that they had ILLEGAL DRUGS at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables on the day before � 11% (9%) of Year 6 pupils said that they were ‘fairly sure’ the survey, compared with primary aged pupils. 33% or ‘certain’ that they knew someone personally who used drugs (not as medicines). 20% of Year 8 and 55% of Year 10 school pupils said the same.

Year 6 Year 8 Year 10

(34%) of Year 6 pupils compared with 29% of Year 8 and Year 6 Year 8 Year 10 24% of Year 10 pupils. � Primary aged girls were less likely to report having nothing to eat or drink for breakfast: Year 6 girls 5% (3%); Year 8 EMOTIONAL HEALTH & WELLBEING girls 8% and Year 10 girls 14%. Are you ever afraid of going to school because you � There is little difference in pupils having crisps ‘on most days’ across the age groups. 19% (20%) of Year 6 pupils, may be bullied? 25% of Year 8 and 24% of Year 10 pupils said this. � 23% (28%) of Year 6 pupils said they felt afraid of going to school at least sometimes. This falls slightly to 26% in Year SMOKING 8 and falls again to 19% in Year 10. Did you smoke last week? � 0% (0%) of the Year 6 pupils smoked a cigarette in the

Year 6 Year 8 Year 10 � When asked if they had ever been bullied at school, 40% (44%) of Year 6 pupils said they had. 44% said this in Year Year 6 Year 8 Year 10 8 and this falls to 41% in Year 10.

week before the survey. 1% of Year 8 pupils and 6% of Year 10 pupils said the same. � 98% (99%) of primary pupils said that they had ‘never smoked at all’. 86% of secondary pupils said the same. � 16% of secondary pupils said they had used an e-cigarette, 4% (2%) of primary pupils said the same.

4 How much do you worry about problems? � 6% (9%) of Year 6 pupils received a nasty or threatening text message in the month before the survey. 8% of Year 8 � 40% (35%) of Year 6 pupils said they worried about school pupils and 7% of Year 10 pupils said the same. tests ‘quite a lot’ or ‘a lot’, this rises to 53% of secondary pupils.

Year 6 Year 8 Year 10 Year 6 Year 8 Year 10 � 37% of secondary pupils worried about the way they PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES looked, only 28% (25%) said the same in the primary survey. What did you do after school? Self-esteem � 62% (56%) of primary-aged boys and 49% (53%) of � In Watford, 50% (47%) of Year 6 pupils had high self- primary aged girls played sport last night. This compares esteem. Secondary wider data tells us that 40% of Year 8 with 54% of secondary aged boys and 46% of secondary- pupils and 40% of Year 10 pupils were in the highest self- aged girls. esteem category. BOYS

Primary Primary Secondary Secondary Boys Girls Boys Girls

Year 6 Year 8 Year 10 � 89% (85%) of primary pupils said that they enjoy physical activities ‘quite a lot’ or ‘a lot’. 75% of secondary pupils GIRLS said the same.

Primary Primary Secondary Secondary Year 6 Year 8 Year 10 Boys Girls Boys Girls

Internet safety � 90% (91%) of primary pupils said that they find it ‘quite � 93% (91%) of Year 6 pupils said they have been told how easy’ or ‘very easy’ to be as physically active as they like, to stay safe while chatting online, 87% of Year 8 and 87% 66% of secondary pupils said the same. of Year 10 pupils said the same.

Primary Primary Secondary Secondary Boys Girls Boys Girls Year 6 Year 8 Year 10

5 The Way Forward – over to you

This work was commissioned and co-ordinated by Public Health with Services for Children and Young People. We are grateful to the teachers, schools, and young people for their time and contributions to this survey. As a result of their work we have excellent data to be used by schools, as well as both statutory and voluntary agencies that support the health of young people in Hertfordshire. This work will inform action plans for joint working between and within organisations involved in improving the health and wellbeing of pupils in schools. The data will be included in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and will also support the County Health and Wellbeing strategy, Hertfordshire's Public Health strategy, the Young People's Substance Misuse Plan and the Sexual Health Improvement Plan.

Hertfordshire Schools who took part in the survey:

Hertfordshire primary Schools: Hertfordshire secondary Schools: Aboyne Lodge Junior Mixed and Infant School, , Chessbrook ESC, Francis Combe Alban Wood Primary School and Nursery, Ashtree , Hitchin Boys' School, Hitchin Girls' Primary School and Nursery, Bishop Wood CE School, School, Roysia Middle Junior School, Tring, Boxmoor Primary School, School, , Sir John Lawes Camp Primary and Nursery School, Chater Junior School, St George's School, Stanborough School School, Crabtree Junior School, Featherstone and . Wood Primary School, Grange Junior School, Hammond Academy, Hertford St Andrew CE Primary School, High Beeches Primary School, Highover Junior Mixed and Infant School, Holywell Primary School, Homerswood Primary For more information about the survey and Nursery School, Kimpton Primary School, please contact: Laurance Haines School, Little Heath Primary Public Health Hertfordshire School, Maple Grove Primary School, Offley Endowed Primary School, Wood Primary Hertfordshire County Council School, Prae Wood Primary School, Roysia Middle Email: [email protected] School, Springmead Primary School, St John Fisher RC Primary School, St Michael's Woolmer Green Tel: 01438 844088 CE VA Primary School, St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School, Tanners Wood Junior Mixed and Infant School, Templewood Primary School, The Holy Family Catholic Primary School, The Wroxham School, Watton-at-Stone Primary and Nursery School, Wood End School and Yorke Mead Primary School.