What is Active Schools?

What is Active Schools?
The Role of an Active Schools Coordinator
Defining an Active School
Active Schools in Aberdeenshire

The Impact of Active Schools

• Active Schools - Information leaflet (pdf 274kb)

What is Active Schools?

Active Schools is a key element in the Scottish Government’s drive to get more Scots more active; a commitment outlined in the National Physical Activity Strategy, ‘Let’s Make Scotland More Active’.

The fundamental aim of the Active Schools Network is to offer school-aged children the motivation and opportunities to adopt active and healthy lifestyles. These opportunities are available before, during and after school, as well as in the wider community. But Active Schools is more than just getting school-aged children to take part in formal sport and exercise. Active Schools also aims to introduce more physical activity into their daily lives through active travel, play and dance. As such, the physical activity and sport element of Active Schools links closely with a number of other key government initiatives- Health Promoting Schools and Safer Routes to Schools, to name just two- and is supported by a broad range of partners.

Active Schools also impacts on a number of other key policies and initiatives, such as the Curriculum for Excellence, which has an important role to play in promoting the health and well being of children and young people and all of those in the educational communities to which they belong.

The Role of an Active Schools Coordinator

The role of an Active Schools Coordinator (ASC) is to support current, and develop new, high quality opportunities for school pupils to participate in regular, frequent, safe and fun physical activity (incorporating sport, play, health and active travel).

The ASC works to develop the capacity of the community by delivering training and workshops, or offer advice and support in relation to grants, funding applications, coaching qualifications, links to national governing bodies and much more.

ASCs work with a range of partners such as sports development, physical education, clubs, school travel coordinator, road safety officers, community education, and NHS Grampian.

Defining an Active School

In seeking to become an ‘Active School’, the school should:

• Provide quality, safe and fun physical activity opportunities, including sport, both within the formal and informal curriculum
• Provide adequate resources and funding for physical activity and sport
• Actively promote positive attitudes towards participation in physical activity with pupils, teachers and families
• Ensure physical activity and sport is referenced within the School Development plan
• Encourage and support pupils to reach their full potential through physical activity, sport and physical education.

Active Schools in Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with Sportscotland and NHS Grampian have invested in Active Schools through to 2011. This has allowed a staff structure to be developed that means all 17 networks have the benefit of an Active Schools Coordinator in post.

To find who the Active Schools Coordinator in your area is go to the 'Active Schools in Your Area' link on the left.

The Impact of Active Schools

Active Schools has made a very positive impact on the life of our school. Our Active Schools Coordinator has great enthusiasm and what is being coordinated is good quality and the children are clearly benefiting.

Carole Hawthorn, Head Teacher. Pitmedden School