September 2026
How School Environments Influence Children’s Health: Insights from ISEE 2026
At the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) 2026 conference, colleagues from our team presented research exploring the important role that school environments play in shaping children’s health and wellbeing.
From respiratory health outcomes to everyday travel behaviours, the studies highlighted how schools are more than places of education. They are environments that can influence children’s health, physical activity, and quality of life in meaningful ways.
Understanding Respiratory Health Patterns Across Schools
Respiratory illnesses are among the leading causes of hospital admissions in childhood, yet relatively little is known about how respiratory health patterns vary between schools.
Research led by Niloo Shoari analysed data from more than 22,000 schools across England to investigate differences in respiratory admission rates among pupils. The findings revealed substantial variation between schools, not only in baseline rates of respiratory admissions but also in seasonal patterns of illness throughout the year.
These results suggest that school communities may experience distinct respiratory health challenges, influenced by a range of environmental, social, and contextual factors. Identifying and understanding these differences could help inform targeted prevention strategies and support the development of healthier school environments for children.
The research was presented during an engaging poster discussion by Professor Pia Hardelid, generating valuable conversations about how schools can contribute to efforts to improve child respiratory health.
Promoting Active and Sustainable Travel to School
The journey to school offers an important opportunity for children to be physically active as part of their daily routine. Walking, cycling, and scooting to school can support physical and mental wellbeing while also contributing to environmental sustainability.
Research presented by Liliane Broschart examined patterns of active travel among school-aged children and found that children attending independent schools were substantially less likely to use active modes of transport than those attending state schools.
The findings highlight potential opportunities to encourage healthier and more sustainable travel behaviours among children. Increasing rates of active travel could not only help boost physical activity levels but also reduce traffic congestion and vehicle-related emissions around schools, creating healthier environments for local communities.
Schools as Important Settings for Child Health
Although these studies focused on different aspects of children’s lives, both reinforce the importance of schools as key environments that influence health and wellbeing.
Whether through patterns of respiratory illness experienced by pupils or the ways children travel to and from school each day, school-related environments can have lasting impacts on health outcomes. Understanding these influences is an important step towards developing policies and interventions that support healthier, more sustainable futures for children.
Looking Ahead
The research presented at ISEE 2026 highlights the value of environmental epidemiology in understanding the complex relationships between schools, health, and wellbeing. By examining both respiratory health and active travel, these studies contribute to a growing evidence base that can help inform public health action and create healthier environments for children.
As researchers continue to explore how children’s everyday environments shape health outcomes, schools will remain an important setting for promoting health, reducing inequalities, and supporting the wellbeing of future generations.
