This article is part of the Schools4Health Spotlight Series, highlighting how schools across Europe are adapting and implementing Health-Promoting School (HPS) approaches.  In Romania, two promising interventions, Better Movers and Thinkers (BMT) and Lifeskills, are being implemented with a focus on enhancing students' cognitive, physical, and emotional wellbeing.

Laying the Groundwork: Relationships and Motivation 

Strong relationships with school staff and the selection of highly motivated schools were key to the pilots’ early success. The Romanian implementation team worked closely with both education institutions to foster ownership, respond flexibly to needs, and ensure sustained engagement throughout the pilot phase. 

Better Movers and Thinkers (BMT): Merging Movement and Mental Focus 

At Dumitru Tăuțan School in Cluj-Napoca, BMT is being piloted in six classes of 1st and 2nd graders as part of their Physical Education curriculum. Originally developed in the UK, the programme integrates movement and cognitive challenges to support executive functions like working memory, attention, and emotional self-regulation. 

“It’s not just about movement, it’s about thinking through movement. That’s what makes it different,” one teacher shared during the pilot. 

Despite overcrowded gyms and limited space, PE teachers creatively adapted the method with the support of the programme’s developer and local team. Students’ enjoyment and engagement stood out as early signs of success. 

Lifeskills: Prioritising Mental Health in Secondary Schools 

The nearby school Liceul Teoretic Crestin ”Pro Deo” is launching the pilot of Lifeskills programme. It focuses on social-emotional learning and will be delivered to students aged 11–14 over six weeks, with lessons on communication, self-awareness, and emotional regulation. 

Teacher training took place in January 2025, and although scheduling the sessions proved difficult due to packed timetables, the school’s enthusiasm for the pilot remained high. The team aims to complete implementation by the end of the school year. 

Lessons in Trust and Flexibility 

One of the pilots’ key strengths has been the strong trust between the implementers and schools. Longstanding collaboration made it easier to overcome logistical barriers and sustain motivation. 

Feedback from teachers confirmed that interventions like BMT and Lifeskills succeed when they are adapted to fit the specific needs of the school, rather than imposed from outside. The Romanian team supported this by maintaining open communication, quickly addressing concerns, and allowing the process to evolve naturally. 

Taking Root 

Both schools are already thinking ahead. Inspired by the Lifeskills programme, one school plans to create a student wellbeing corner. Efforts to make healthier physical and social environments show that the HPS approach is already beginning to take root in the daily life of the school community. 

Stay tuned for more updates as Schools4Health supports schools across Europe in growing from seeds of innovation to sustainable change. 

Visit www.schools4health.eu for more insights.

Disclaimer: 
This project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor HaDEA can be held responsible for them.