Schools of today are very much about preparing young people to function as productive members of society. Schools equip young people with the skills and knowledge needed to participate in the social, economic and cultural life of their local, national and global communities. Alongside a vocational role schools have another role. This role is to provide a health promoting setting within which students can develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to live healthy lives both in the short and long term.

Using a case study, this thesis examines how a cross-disciplinary collaboration between teaching and social work can negotiate the global, national and local policy trends that require schools to focus on both vocational pathways and student wellbeing needs.