New Zealand primary schools are not doing all they can to protect pupils from the sun, research has found.
Of the 388 schools randomly selected in an Otago University study only 4 per cent met all 12 criteria set out in a sun smart protection plan.
The 2009 survey found about a third of schools met 10 or 11 of the criteria set out in the SunSmart Schools Accreditation Programme while one-sixth achieved only six or fewer of the guidelines.
The 12 criteria relate to school policy, information provision, hats, other clothing, "play in the shade", sunscreen, staff role modelling, curriculum content, event planning, outdoor activities rescheduling, shade provision and policy review.
The report, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, says New Zealand schools lag behind their Australian counterparts when compared to a similar accreditation process across the Tasman. In 2005 52 per cent met the Australian standards.
Lead researcher Associate Professor Tony Reeder says there was still considerable room for improvement in schools' sun smart plans.
He says only 42 per cent of schools met the grade when it came to encouraging the use of sun-protective clothing such as long-sleeved and collared shirts and he suggests schools work with suppliers to make clothing more available.
The report also said there needed to be more shade in school grounds.
Prof Reeder says sun exposure in the early years of life is a major factor in influencing the risk of melanoma.
"Students are at school when UV radiation levels are at their peak, so it is vital to encourage comprehensive sun protection that encompasses school policies, practices and environment, as well as the curriculum," he said.
NZN