Liverpool teacher inspires pupils to get active
by Educate Magazine February 28, 2018 · All News / Primary School News
A Liverpool primary school teacher is inspiring his pupils to be more active after meeting an Olympic gold medallist at an event in London last week.
Jay Clarke from Rudston Primary School joined slalom canoeist Joe Clarke at a special teaching event in the capital. Joe, who made history at the 2016 Rio Games by winning GB’s first gold medal in the canoe slalom men’s K1, shared his inspiring story and offered advice on how teachers can help pupils to get active.
The event at Riversdale Primary School in Wandsworth was part of a training day of workshops and activities for teachers from across the UK in how to inspire kids to be more active before, during and after school. The event was part of Active Kids Do Better, a new programme to increase kids’ movement and play throughout the school day.
Jay Clarke said: “I enjoyed meeting Joe Clarke and the experts and teachers at the event. We all want to try and get children to be active and it was good to see what we can do as teachers and how simple it is to implement that in school. It’s important that children stay active throughout the school day. Keeping active boosts results and makes for a healthier classroom.”
Joe Clarke said: “It’s a real privilege to be associated with a programme that will have such a positive impact on the lives of so many kids. Sport has given me so much and it’s enriched my life. If we can help and inspire teachers to help kids to get moving, it would be fantastic.”
Fewer than one in four young children in the UK get the recommended amount of exercise, which means that millions of kids are missing out on the benefit of sport and play. Active kids are healthier, happier and show stronger academic performance.
The Active Kids Do Better programme, developed with the support of Liverpool John Moores University, offers free resources, games and activities to all UK primary schools, and teachers can sign up online at activekidsdobetter.co.uk.
From short-burst classroom activities to outdoor games and play, the programme gives busy teachers everywhere fun and easy opportunities to get kids moving. They’ll also have the chance to make a special active teacher pledge, and to encourage their class to work towards bronze, silver and gold awards.
