Active Schools
The aim of the Active Schools programme is to offer school-aged children the motivation and opportunities to adopt active, healthy lifestyles – both now and into adulthood. Physical activity is introduced into young people's daily lives through active travel, play and dance, all in the context of a health promoting school. These opportunities are available before, during and after school, as well as in the wider community.
There are clear links between the Active Schools programme and health promoting schools, with both sharing the same general ethos.
sportscotland is the facilitator of the Active Schools programme and has been granted a budget of £24 million from the Scottish Executive to ensure the full roll-out of the programme across Scotland over the next three years. The Active Schools network has 32 managers, 260 primary coordinators and 370 secondary coordinators based in councils and schools throughout Scotland.
Characteristics of the Active School
An Active School sends out a strong message on physical activity and sport to a wide audience. In seeking to develop physical activity as part of becoming a health promoting school, the school should:
- provide quality, safe and fun physical activity opportunities, in both the formal and informal curriculum
- provide adequate resources and funding for physical activity
- actively promote positive attitudes towards participation in physical activity with pupils, staff and families
- ensure that physical activity complements school policy on inclusion and equal opportunities
- ensure that physical activity is included in the school development plan
- encourage and support pupils to reach their full potential within physical activity, including sport and physical education (PE)
- create strong partnerships with external agencies and personnel to develop quality physical activity opportunities.
Useful link
Active Schools page of the sportscotland website
Background information about the initiative and how it is being implemented.
