England Athletics - Supporting the Great School Run

About The Great School Run
The Great School Run is a 2k event encouraging children to take part in exercise for fun, and to help to make physical activity part of each school’s and every family’s lifestyle. The Great School Run is now established as an annual event, and as the programme grows, we hope that schools will help us to develop more curriculum links, making the event an integral part of the school calendar.

The Great School Run is a national fitness campaign designed to help get schools active, with the challenge of a nationwide series of exciting mass participation fun run events. The campaign links education with physical activity. It was created to help teachers deliver elements of primary school curriculum in a fun and engaging way to children.

Details about the programme are posted on the Great School run website at www.greatschoolrun.org.  Schools who sign up are provided with a free Great School Run pack which provides teachers with everything they need to know about organising a fun run in their school. The campaign is supported by a fitness and education programme with lesson ideas provided for teachers via a searchable online database on the  Great School Run website. During the campaign children are encouraged to think more about healthy eating and the importance of physical activity as part of a balanced lifestyle.

Getting involved
The programme is aimed at 5-11 year olds but any school can take part in the event if they wish.  Many of the suggested classroom activities can be adapted for use with any age and ability being by outcome rather than task.
Although the event is called a 'run', it is possible to participate in the Great School Run at any level of ability.  Children, their families, and staff can walk the route, jog or run it, or get round using a mix of the three paces.  Partnerships of able and less able-bodied children can also work together to achieve the goals of the event.