‘Move a mile’ event at St Mark’s

Over 220 children from Years 3 and 4 from Batheaston Primary, Bathampton Primary, Swainswick Primary and St Saviour’s Juniors met at St Mark’s School on Friday 18th November. Children took part in a range of running activities organised by staff and students at St Mark’s. The aim of the event was to demonstrate to the children and their primary teachers the many activities that pupils can do to improve health and fitness whilst counting towards their weekly ‘Move a Mile’ challenge, set by the Director of Public Health Award.

Judy Allies, Director of Public Health Award Coordinator at Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: “Move a Mile is a challenge for all our primary schools to get children more active during the school day. The Government’s Childhood Obesity Plan asks for schools to deliver 30 minutes of physical activity every day and the B&NES DPH Award for schools asks for 3 hours a week, including PE lessons.”

“Move a Mile is a great way to encourage children to be more physically active in a range of fun ways and can be used at any time in the day. Congratulations to the staff and children taking part today – they are showing us all how it can be done!”

Brendan Rouse, School Sports Coordinator at St Mark’s School, added:
“Sixty pedometers were distributed among the runners with the aim of achieving 2,000 steps which is the equivalent to one mile. Some Pedometers came back with over 6,000 steps, demonstrating how successful and effective simple running exercises can be whilst having lots of fun!”

Brendan thanked Ms Gooding, Teacher of PE at St Mark’s, and the Year 7 Sports Ambassadors, who led the event and kept so many children on the move.