Research over the past 10+ years has shown the significant importance of physical activity in developing the brain, and as a result the strong link between physical fitness and academic results.
In the words of a teacher who recently attended a “Get Active” workshop, “all teachers should know about this”.
Get Active is a program of 2 or 3 workshops, delivered by an Olympic/GB athlete, is designed to help a whole school understand how small changes can have a big impact on academic results, pupil behaviour and mental health.
The grounding for the approach is based on work by Professor John J Ratey (author of “Spark!”, and “Go Wild”).
The first 2-hour workshop is designed to share the learnings from the work of Professor John Ratey and other researchers with all members of staff, to ensure that there is a firm grounding and understanding for the rest of the programme.
The timing can be set to suit the school, however, in general the workshop is designed to be delivered as a twilight session shortly after school finishes, around 3.30pm.
The final section will bring together the learnings from the day, and create a homework list for all staff, which will be coordinated by the Get Active Champion. Included in this will be templates that the school can use to enthuse the parent body, and encourage a high attendance at the second workshop.
This leaves 15 minutes spare for contingencies, such as school-specific discussions (which we are confident will crop up).
A few weeks after workshop 1 the athlete mentor will return for a whole day in order to support the school in kicking off the new program.
Update the athlete mentor on progress, homework and ideas that the school has decided to take forward. The objective at this stage is for the school to have concrete steps that have been agreed and have broad internal support to pilot within the school.
It’s suggested that this assembly take place at the very start of the day, so that the athlete mentor can use the rest of the day to join teachers in class.
Class sessions are be designed to help teachers to workshop with pupils the concepts explained in the initial assembly, and invite the children to contribute with their own ideas. Class teachers will be provided with a workbook and support templates to use in class.
A few weeks after the first workshop, the athlete mentor can optionally return to review progress, and lead a communication exercise with parents.
From experience, the most effective way to draw in a large number of parents is to combine this workshop with an existing major school event, such as a summer fete or Christmas bazaar, and by making the activity interactive and fun through a challenge with the athlete.
A one and two year review that show the ongoing development of new (small) steps that overall create a culture of continuous improvement in the sphere of physical activity, PE, sport and wellbeing of pupils and staff.