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FEATURE FOCUS: TACKLING STUDENT OBESITY
Springboard for success
As Schools Partnership Officer at British Gymnastics, I recognise that educational settings have a huge responsibility in supporting the wellbeing and physical development of their pupils. The opportunities you provide for children to express themselves in a physical education setting will have a life-long effect. It goes far beyond ticking the box of any number of hours of PE - they need to be quality hours that activate children in the immediate and inspire a lifetime of healthy living. Without doubt, a diverse range of sports and
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n our second feature this month on tackling student obesity and the benefits of physical
activity, we’re delighted to hear from British Gymnastics’ Schools Partnership Officer Jessica Pearce, who discusses the deleterious effects of the pandemic on the health of our children, and explains how the organisation’s Partner School Programme can mitigate these and help children develop healthy habits that last a lifetime.
activities are needed to engage young people who will have a variety of interests and ability levels. But within this, the way to ensure the most inclusive and all-encompassing sessions within school is to look to sports that have the capacity to influence pupils beyond the classroom or sports hall. This is why British Gymnastics is proud to offer a Partner School Programme featuring a brand-new addition of an inclusive recreational gymnastics programme – Rise Gymnastics - which has been designed in conjunction with teachers and schools across the country. The pandemic has had a detrimental effect on
child activity levels. Research from Sport England shows us that almost a third of children (2.3
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www.education-today.co.uk
million) were classed as 'inactive' as a result of lockdown restrictions, not even doing 30 minutes per day. This demonstrates clearly that the problems facing the education sector go far beyond an immediate turnaround and it is vital that young people are supported in making physical activity part of their everyday life in school and beyond. Gymnastics is arguably the best sport for
supporting young people in developing healthy habits that last a lifetime. It is considered a ‘foundation sport’ – not only does gymnastics inspire young people to remain active, but it also works as a fantastic base for discovery and development. It is the sport that doesn’t just make people active, it makes active people. England’s Physical Education National
Curriculum also lists gymnastics as a sport relevant across all stages of development. This is because it aids young people in coordination, flexibility, and strength – as well as helping them to enjoy communicating, collaborating, and competing with each other. On the 18th of March, Ofsted published a
comprehensive review of Physical Education and how it is taught in schools. Specifically, the report “highlights the importance of building firm
April 2022
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