Daily Mile improving health of Scots pupils

Governments around the world should consider introducing school fitness scheme the Daily Mile to improve the health of children, new research suggests.

The first study of the initiative, which involves pupils taking a 15-minute break from class for physical activity, found it improves fitness, body composition and activity levels.

Researchers studying nearly 400 pupils found those doing the Daily Mile ran on average 39.1 metres more on a bleep test (shuttle runs) than a control school.

Elaine Wyllie, then head teacher of St Ninian’s Primary School in Stirling, founded the initiative in 2012 to improve pupils’ fitness. Children are encouraged to run, jog or walk around their school grounds during a 15-minute break, in addition to normal intervals and physical education lessons.

Researchers studied pupils at two primary schools in the Stirling Council region, with a total of 391 pupils aged between four and 12 taking part.

Colin Moran, of Stirling University, who co-led the study, said: “Our research observed positive changes in children who participated in the Daily Mile intervention, compared to our control school where the scheme was not introduced.

“It suggests that the Daily Mile is a worthwhile intervention to introduce in schools and that it should be considered for inclusion in government policy, both at home and abroad.”

Since the initiative began in 2012 around half of Scotland’s primary schools have taken it up.

Scottish public health and sport minister Aileen Campbell said: “Scotland’s Daily Mile initiative is catching the imagination of the UK and beyond, and this research is even more validation of the impact it can have on people’s lives.”

“Impact”: Aileen Campbell.