For the past two years, Active Oxfordshire has partnered with Creating Active Schools (CAS) to help schools across Oxfordshire embed physical activity into their learning environments. The CAS framework is designed by health and education experts with the aim of improving the physical health and mental wellbeing of children, increasing concentration, and encouraging socialisation and collaboration between students at school.

We have seen schools across the county, including Windmill Primary School in Headington, implement the CAS programme into their policies and the positive impact that even small changes are having.

Windmill Primary School: A Case Study

Windmill Primary School first increased their focus on becoming an active school to improve weight management amongst their students. By embedding physical activity into the school day, they were amazed at the difference it made and were then invited to join the CAS framework and share their learnings with other schools across the county. As a result of being part of the CAS Framework, Windmill School has further extended their focus on activity and incorporated a Physical Activity policy, making it a priority to embed activity as a means of learning.

Lynn Knapp, the Headteacher of Windmill Primary School, has seen not only the physical benefits, but has also identified other positive differences which these changes have had on the school. Concentration levels and retention in classes have improved, and some students have been using physical activity to cope with anxiety and to help with their mental health.

CAS gives schools access to a number of resources, including toolkits to help schools review their needs and where change could be implemented, CPD modules, and offers opportunities to meet with other schools to share experiences and learn from one another. The toolkits enable schools to assess their own policies and make changes in ways which work best specifically for them.

One way which Windmill Primary School introduced physical activity into the classroom was by using dance as a learning method, creating an environment and a "culture where it's okay to be active." Lynn told us how being active helped the children reinforce their learning, and helped them be more ready and prepared to learn in class.

Creating an active school takes time, and Lynn talks about the benefits of the toolkit for Windmill School: "The CAS Toolkit helps you reflect on which areas you could make small changes, and also understand that you don't have to change everything at once. That awareness that things can move gradually."

By embedding physical activity into the school day, Windmill School has seen significant benefits for their children.

If you would like to understand more about the CAS programme, and how you can use physical activity to benefit your school and your students, please get in touch with Adam adambrowne@activeoxfordshire.org.