Devon County Council

From David Hutchings, Exeter 382594, November 19, 2008

PUPILS in schools across Devon will be taking part in an Active Life Challenge next week.

It's part of Devon County Council's drive to encourage more children to get fitter and healthier.

It comes as statistics show almost every primary school pupil in Devon is already doing at least three hours of high quality physical exercise a week.

The Government says 85 per cent of pupils should do at least two hours of high quality PE and school sport a week.

But Devon has devised its own scheme to promote physical activity in schools and over 99 per cent of the county's primaries now provide at least two hours of physical education within the curriculum as part of the Devon PEDPASS programme.

PEDPASS - short for physical education, daily physical activity and school sport - requires children to do at least two hours of PE and an hour of physical activity a week.

And a new Devon PEDPASS Active Lifestyle Award for schools is being launched as part of Devon County Council's drive to develop more active young people at a healthy weight.

This has three levels of award, Bronze, Silver and Gold. To achieve a Gold award, schools have to provide two and a half hours of PE a week with five 30-minute sessions of daily physical activity and ensure at least half their pupils take part in one hour of out-of-school sport or physical activity a week.

The new award will form part of the Olympic legacy for the children and young people of Devon and marks the beginning of a range of programmes inspired by the Olympics and aimed to encourage more active youngsters.

Schools are being encouraged to make the week as active as possible and invite staff and parents to get involved as well as pupils.

Many schools are holding a Run for Life event on Monday (Nov 24) around

the school grounds and a Skip for Life where children skip in a relay

of teams continuously for an hour or more on Thursday (Nov 27).

Schools will also be promoting walking and cycling.

The week has been devised by Devon County Council's Physical Education advisory team, led by Steve Kibble.

He said: "It is now widely recognised that children are more likely to achieve their full academic potential by being involved in daily physical activity.

"Physical activity energises children and improves their ability to concentrate in class.

Devon County Council's deputy leader and executive councillor for children's services, John Smith, said: "I am delighted that children across the county are getting the opportunity to take part in enhanced levels of sport and physical activity due to the PEDPASS scheme.

"Once again Devon is leading the way in ensuring that our children have the chance to grow into fit and active adults and improve their health and well-being."

NOTE TO NEWS EDS: Below are some of the schools which are taking part, when they're doing the run and skip and who to contact for more information.

For interviews with Steve Kibble please telephone David Hutchings on 01392 382594.

ends

School Name	Contact Name/Tel No.	Run for Life 24 November 2008	Skip for Life 12.30-1.30 27 November 2008
Awliscombe Primary	Jo Lee 01404-42031		P
Boasley Cross	Helen Rickson 01837-871362	P	P
Bradley Barton Primary	David Knott 01626-203450	P	P
Bratton Fleming Primary	Wendy Gosling 01598-710337	P
Broadwoodwidger Primary	Nigel Sutton 01409-211366	Will be holding a fun run event am
Chudleigh Knighton	Tanya Rendle 01626-852314	2.45 in school field	P
East the Water Primary	Deana Smith 01237-475178	3.00 onwards - fun run with parents to watch or join in.	Skip-a-thon with teachers. Older children paired with younger children to add their skipping
Farway Primary	Sara Chant 01404-871239	P	P
High Bickington	Rob Norton 01769-560324	P	P
Holbeton Primary	Suzanne Moiser 01752-830317	P	P
Holsworthy Primary	Alan Muller 01409-253700	P	P
Kentisbury/Parracombe Primary	Sophie Huggins Parracombe 01598-763338 Kentisbury 01271-883263	P	P
Kenton Primary	Jacqueline Hohl 01626-890465	P	P
Kingskerswell C of E	B Sleeman 01803-873398	Lunchtime
Kingswear Primary	Jessica Alford 01803-752356	P	P
Littleham Primary	Rosemary Roberts 01395-266535	P	P
Newport Primary	Paul Jenkins 01271-376252	Already an annual event for all pupils Reception - Y6 during Summer Term	P
Parracombe and Kentisbury Primary Schools	Sophie Huggins Parracombe 01598-763338 Kentisbury 01271-883263	P	P
Shaugh Prior Primary	Gill Gilmartin 01752-839373	pm	pm
Sidbury Primary	Amy Frost 01395-597279		Fri 28 Nov 1.00-1.30
Sticklepath Primary	Gill Bazzard 01271-342455	KS1 am KS2 pm	12.30-1.00
St David's C of E Primary, Exeter	Ruth Briscoe 01392-255569
St Josephs, Exmouth	Heather Little/Cathy Doyle 01395-264875	Weds 25 Nov 1.30-3.30	P
St Michaels, Exeter	Sarah Durkin 01392-256669	Probably on 24 Nov (tbc) throughout the day in groups	12.00-1.10
St Sidwells	Dax Oliver 01392-255551	P
The Topsham School	Tracy Muldoon 01392-874498		P
Tidcombe Primary	Emma Green 01884-252973	P	P

Aveton Gifford Primary	James Elford 01548-550262		P
BishopsTawton Primary	John Mortimer 01271-343002	The London Olympic Challenge - run 2012 laps of the playground? Each class will have an allotted time to run laps of the playground. Each person counts their laps and when added together, the total for the whole school will be higher than 2012. This will require Key Stage 1 children to run about 10 laps and key stage 2 children to run about 20 laps. Wednesday 24th November - The Skip-a-thon. During lunchtime we want every child to do some skipping. For those that cannot skip we will start teaching them to skip. Those that can skip can choose to complete either the 50 / 100 / 500 skip challenge.

ends