Pupils say they benefit from Active Schools

An independent report has shown the vast majority of pupils in Perth and Kinross feel they benefit from the Active Schools initiative.

Findings based on nearly 1300 respondents showed 93 per cent said they felt that participating in sport and physical activity with Active Schools has encouraged them to continue with sport and physical activity as they get older.

Eighty-five per cent of pupils said that being involved in sport had made them feel happy, 96 per cent said that it made them feel healthy, and 89 per cent said it made them feel confident.

Active Schools, funded by sportscotland and delivered in Perth and Kinross by Live Active Leisure, aims to provide more, and higher, quality opportunities to take part in sport and physical activity before school, during lunchtime and after school, and to develop effective pathways between schools and sports clubs in the local community.

The independent report, which invited responses based on a typical school year, summarised the Perth and Kinross responses to the sportscotland survey, which was undertaken to understand the contribution that sportscotland is making towards the Active Scotland Outcomes Framework (ASOF) for school pupils through the Active Schools programme.

Tammy McKinlay, Active Schools Manager for Live Active Leisure, said:“The ASOF report findings for Perth and Kinross are very encouraging and offer strong evidence of the positive difference that taking part in school sport has on our children and young people.

“This is all thanks to the 900+ Active School volunteers that deliver sport and physical activity sessions free of charge to our school pupils.”

The survey also asked Perth and Kinross pupils whether they would be less active without their Active Schools activity.

Whilst overall, 43 per cent of pupils said that they would be less active, the response to this question differed significantly between primary and secondary aged pupils.

Around 32 per cent of primary aged pupils (aged eight to 11 years old) said that they would be less active without their Active Schools activity.

This compares to 53 per cent of secondary aged pupils (aged 12 to 17 years old).

Konstantina Stavridou, who is in S1 at Perth High School, said:“Going to the Perth High School hockey club means I can get more active. I come along with my friends, so I have someone to support me.

“I don’t do anything outside of school, so this is my main sports club. It makes me feel happy and means that I don’t just stay at home.”