Schools: Investing in the next generation

The Schools Project was an investment to influence long-term behaviour change within younger generations by increasing understanding of cancer, cancer screening and treatment, and the connection between healthy behaviours and cancer risk. A comprehensive teaching module, aligned with the Curriculum for Wales within the Health and Wellbeing Area of Learning, raised awareness of bowel screening, FIT testing, and the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer among pupils and the wider school community. Through partnership with local representatives from Public Health Wales, authentic local context was brought into the classroom.

The module provides a structured suite of lesson plans that can be incorporated across multiple subject areas, combining scientific understanding, data analysis, geography, health behaviours and ethical discussion. With both core and optional elements, schools are able to tailor delivery within their own curriculum planning, integrating cancer education into mainstream teaching rather than relying on external delivery.

The initial partnership began in 2019 with Pontypridd High School, under the leadership of headteacher Huw Cripps, which became the flagship school for this pioneering work. Over the following five years, the module spread across the region, with 24 secondary schools incorporating it into their teaching plans by the end of 2023.  By the end of 2025, it had been delivered across west and south Wales and south Powys, reaching more than 5,000 pupils, with many schools continuing to integrate the content within their curriculum.

In the final stages of the investment, the relationship with Public Health Wales was further strengthened to support development of national resource toolkits underpinning the Health and Wellbeing Area of Learning. In 2026, elements of the Bowel Cancer Module feature within the national toolkit.

This work has demonstrated how targeted investment can support schools to build health literacy, encourage intergenerational conversations about screening and symptoms, and embed cancer awareness within mainstream education. Its influence continues through sustained delivery in schools and through integration into national resources.

The foundations established through this investment create a strong platform for consistent adoption across secondary schools in Wales, strengthening health literacy at scale and equipping future generations to engage proactively with cancer risk reduction, screening and early detection.