The words ‘physical education’ (PE) might conjure up images of old-school tracksuits and laps around the school field, but the discipline is increasingly being looked to as the solution to some of our modern world problems. With rising obesity rates and a national mental health crisis, recent statistics show that almost a third of children in England achieve less than 30 minutes of activity a day, with disadvantaged pupils worst affected.
Increasing exercise within the school day could be the answer to a healthier future for our young people.
At St James, we know this reality first hand. Our academy is based in a local authority that ranks in the top 3% nationally for poor health and where 28% of children leave primary school overweight or obese. To make real change, we had to take considered and large-scale action to help support our young people and provide them with the knowledge and confidence to create a healthier lifestyle.
So, we set out to find how we could make PE a way of life by increasing pupil engagement and interest in exercise at school, to create a lasting impact for the future.
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