Physical activity and sport sessions in schools have jumped by 53 per cent at primary level, and 17 per cent overall, in the last two years since Active Schools was launched with ?12 million per annum of backing from Ministers.
In the 2005-06 school year 350,000 activity sessions took place in schools with Active Schools Coordinators in post, in addition to timetabled PE, representing an average rise of 17 per cent on the previous year. For primary schools the increase was 53 per cent.
More than 8.5 million participant sessions were held across a range of 69 activities from rugby and hockey to Scottish dance and organised playground games.
In addition, two more detailed studies into primary and secondary schools in Dumfries and Galloway and South Lanarkshire revealed an increase in participation in physical activities by girls, with increases of 37 per cent and 32 per cent respectively in those reaching the national activity target of 60 minutes per day.
Other feedback from these two detailed case studies shows that 73 per cent of primary pupils are now achieving the national activity target, an increase of 30 per cent, whilst in secondary schools 48 per cent are achieving the target – a 9 per cent increase.
The Active Schools Network is managed by sportscotland and forms part of the Executive’s Healthy Living Campaign which aims to offer children the motivation and opportunities to adopt active, healthy lifestyles. It supports the Executive’s aim that all schools should be health promoting.