Looking after your health at secondary school

Being a teenager can be exciting but also challenging. This page brings together advice on a range of health topics to support you through school and beyond. You’ll find tips and links to help you make positive choices and look after yourself.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK and mostly affects women over 50, however younger women can also get breast cancer. In rare cases men can also be diagnosed with breast cancer. One in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime however there is good chance of recovery if detected early. For this reason, it is important that women check their breasts regularly for any changes

Breast self-examination:

Touch your breasts. Can you feel anything unusual?

Look for changes. Is there any change in shape and texture?

Check anything unusual with your doctor

Lump

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Texture

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Appearance or direction of the nipple

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Nipple Discharge

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Rash or crusting

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Further support 

 

Cervical Screening (Smears)

Cervical screening (a smear test) checks the health of your cervix. The cervix is the opening to your womb from your vagina.

It's not a test for cancer, it's a test to help prevent cancer. All women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64 should be invited by letter every three years. During the screening appointment, a small sample of cells will be taken from your cervix.

The sample is tested for changes to the cells of your cervix. Finding abnormal changes early means they can be monitored or treated so they do not get a chance to turn into cervical cancer. You'll get your results by letter, usually in about 2 weeks.

When you receive your results you may also have included a HPV result as it is a risk factor for cervical cancer. If this is positive you will be recalled for another smear in 12 months to review your HPV status, as the body should deal with the infection itself (NHS UK).

Try not to put off cervical screening. It's one of the best ways to protect yourself from cervical cancer.

HPV Vaccine

Girls can get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine free from the NHS from the age of 12 up to their 25th birthday. It helps protect them against cervical cancer, which is the most common cancer in women under 35 in the UK.  From the 2019-20 school year, it's expected that 12- to 13-year-old boys will also become eligible for the HPV vaccine.

It also helps to protect against genital warts and rarer HPV-related cancers, such as:

  • anal cancer
  • genital cancers
  • cancers of the head and neck

In England, girls aged 12 to 13 years are routinely offered the first HPV vaccination when they're in school Year 8. The second dose is normally offered 6 to 12 months after the first (in school Year 8 or Year 9).

The HPV vaccine is effective at stopping girls getting the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers, and some other anal and genital cancers and cancers of the head and neck. It's important to have both doses to be protected.

Girls who missed their HPV vaccination can still be vaccinated on the NHS up to their 25th birthday. Girls who start the HPV vaccination after the age of 15 will need 3 doses as they do not respond as well to 2 doses as younger girls do.

Further support

 

The following are recommendations to help ensure you can remain healthy and live well (NHS UK).

Diet

Ensuring you have a balanced diet is an important part in maintaining good health. A balanced diet means you eat from a variety of food groups to ensure that you have consumed sufficient nutrition to ensure your body can work well maintain good health. 

Food groups in your diet should include fruit and vegetables at least 5 portions per day, high fibre/starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, rice should be at least a third of your plate. Some dairy or dairy alternatives and protein such as pulses, fish, meat and eggs should also be included as part of a varied diet.

Drink plenty of fluids each day (at least 6-8 glasses) water is best.  Limit foods with saturated fat and food and drinks high in sugar as this increase your risk of obesity and tooth decay.

Further support

Local support

Up to age 18

Age 18 and over

National support

Exercise

To stay healthy you need to stay active daily and complete both aerobic and strengthening exercises the following are recommended guidelines:

Age 19-64 years 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week (such as brisk walking or cycling) or 75 minutes of vigorous running or tennis etc.

And

Strength exercises two or more days a week that work all the major muscles of the body such as legs, back etc.

Age 5-18 years you need to do three types of physical activity:

  • Aeorobic exercise
  • Bones strengthening exercise
  • Muscle strengthening exercise

You should be doing at least 60 minutes every day and at least 3 days a week this exercise should include exercises to strengthen muscles and bones such as gymnastics, dance, football, running and tennis.

For further information can be found below:

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Immunisations are an important way we prevent illnesses that can result in life limiting changes such as blindness, deafness, brain damage and death. This is why children in the UK are immunised as a baby to give lifelong protection, the immunisations are given at certain ages in order to maintain your protection until you leave school.

When planning to go to university, it is important to ensure you have had the Meningitis ACWY vaccine and Diptheria, Tetanus, Polio booster. If you have had your injections in year 9 you will have had the Meningitis ACWY vaccine and Diptheria, Tetanus, Polio booster, so you will not need another injection.

Don’t worry if you have not had the Meningitis ACWY and Diptheria, Tetanus, Polio booster in year 9 and you are going to university. You can contact your GP surgery, who can arrange for you to have the MEN ACWY and Diptheria, Tetanus, Polio booster injection at the surgery.

If you are not sure what injections, you have had you can ask your GP, contact the school health service or go through access to information.

There might be a small charge for you to obtain your immunisation history.

By the time you leave school you should have had 5 injections Diptheria, Tetanus, Polio as a minimum, plus a few others that you can see from the information given below:

3-in-1 teenage booster

6-in-one vaccine

BCG (tuberculosis) vaccination

  • Protects against: tuberculosis (TB)
  • Who needs it: babies and children who have a high chance of coming into contact with tuberculosis.
  • Given: from birth to 16 years of age.

Chickenpox vaccination

  • Protects against: chickenpox
  • Who needs it: siblings of children who have suppressed immune systems and are susceptible to chickenpox, for example because they're having cancer treatment or have had an organ transplant.
  • Given: from one year of age upwards. Children receive two doses of chickenpox vaccine given four to eight weeks apart.
  • Read more about the chickenpox jab

Children's flu vaccine

  • Protects against: Flu
  • Given at: annually as a nasal spray in Sept/Oct for all children aged two to nine years on 31 August 2018
  • Read more about the flu vaccine for children

Flu

  • Protects against: flu
  • Who needs it: children aged six months to two years and those aged nine to 17 who have certain medical conditions or a weakened immune system, which may put them at risk of complications from flu. (All children aged two to eight years are given the flu vaccine as part of the routine immunisation schedule.)
  • Given: for children between the ages of six months and two years as a single jab every year in September/November. For children aged nine to 17 years of age as a nasal spray every year in September/November.
  • Read more about the nasal spray flu vaccine and the flu jab

Hepatitis B

  • Protects against: Hepatitis B
  • Who needs it: children at high risk of exposure to hepatitis B, and babies born to infected mothers.
  • Given: as six doses over 12 months – a baby born to a mother infected with hepatitis B will be given a dose at birth, followed by further doses at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age, and a final dose at one year

Hib/Men C vaccine

Human Papilloma Vaccine (HPV)

  • Protects against: cervical cancer
  • Given at: 12-13 years as two injections at least six months apart
  • Read more about the HPV vaccine

Meningitis B vaccine

  • Protects against: Meningitis (caused by Meningococcal type B bacteria)
  • Given at: 8 weeks, 16 weeks and one year of age
  • Read more about the Men B vaccine

MMR vaccine

  • Protects against: Measles, Mumps and Rubella (German Measles)
  • Given at: one year and at three years and four months of age
  • Read more about the MMR jab

Meningitis ACWY

  • Protects against: Meningitis (caused by meningococcal types A, C, W and Y bacteria)
  • Given at: 14 years and new university students aged 19-25
  • Read more about the MenACWY vaccine

Optional vaccinations

These vaccinations are offered on the NHS in addition to the routine programme to "at-risk" groups of babies and children.

Pneumococcal (PCV)

  • Protects against: some types of Pneumococcal infection
  • Given at: 8 weeks, 16 weeks and one year of age

Rotavirus vaccine

Further support

Smoking and vaping are harmful to your health and can lead to serious long-term health issues. Smoking tobacco releases harmful chemicals, such as tar and nicotine, which can damage the lungs, heart, and other organs. It significantly increases the risk of diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory conditions.

While vaping is often marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, it still carries risks. Vaping involves inhaling chemicals in e-liquids, which may contain harmful substances and can damage the lungs and increase the risk of respiratory problems. Vaping is also particularly harmful to young people, as it can affect brain development and increase the likelihood of future tobacco use.

Both smoking and vaping pose significant risks to overall health, and the best way to protect yourself is to avoid or quit these habits.

Further information

Vaping has become increasingly popular, especially amongst young people, however, this does not mean it is good for you. The use of e-cigarettes can lead to nicotine addiction and long-term health problems.

Support is available for those who struggle with vaping.

The testicles are two oval shaped male sex organs that are found inside the scrotum on either side of the penis. They are an important part of the male reproductive system as they produce sperm and the hormone testosterone necessary for male sexual development. In order to recognise what is not normal it is important to understand what is normal for you, therefore regular self-examination is recommended at least monthly.

There are around 2,200 cases of testicular cancer diagnosed each year. Testicular cancer is the most common type of cancer to affect men between ages of 15-49. Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer and has 98% successful treatment rate for this reason it is extremely important that individuals perform testicular self-examination regularly (NHS and Cancer Research UK)

Testicular self-examination

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What are you looking for?

  • A hard lump on front or side of a testicle
  • Swelling or enlargement of a testicle
  • Increase in firmness of a testicle
  • Pain or discomfort in a testicle or in the scrotum (the sac that holds the testicles)
  • An unusual difference between one testicle and another

If you find a lump or swelling or any of the above signs get checked out as soon as possible.

Further information

What is a Young Carer?

Young Carers are children and young people under the age of 18 who provide regular and ongoing care and emotional support to a family member who is physically or mentally ill, disabled or misuses substances. A young carer becomes vulnerable when the level of care giving and responsibility to the person in need of care becomes excessive or inappropriate for that child, risking impacting on his or her emotional or physical well-being or educational achievement and life chances.

Some of the responsibilities Young Carers might have include, practical tasks such as cooking and cleaning, physical care for example moving and handling, personal care, emotional support, household management such as managing finances, caring for siblings, administering medication or translating. Some people become carers at a very young age and don’t realise they are carers, other young people become carers overnight.

We know that Young Carers often do not think of themselves as carers and it is important that you are recognised and get the support you need. 

Further support:

National information
For students with additional needs visit our dedicated page on our website