Creating a Culture of Physical Activity in schools through positive Learning Experiences.
Over 160 passionate educators, senior leaders and education partners came together in October for our second Active Schools Col-Lab. The day was centred around sharing our learning, collaboration and inspiring schools to go ‘from nothing to something, and something to more’.
We kicked things off with Hywel Roberts, who opened the day with an enthusiastic and dynamic session on why active pedagogy truly matters, reminding us that movement and learning are deeply connected. His energy and insight set the tone for a day filled with opportunities to explore how we can embed physical activity across the whole school day.
Learning, Leading, and Taking Action
Attendees included headteachers, middle leaders, School Games Organisers, and representatives from local charities, the Youth Sport Trust, Sport England, and other partner organisations.
The programme included a range of interactive learning sessions, each focusing on a key topic led by some of the TaAF team and our amazing partners. Move & Learn shared ways to embed movement into the classroom, Richard Varey talked about Fearless Leadership, our Middle Leaders shared their stories of change, and our research associates at Edge Hill University discussed their child-level data collection.
“Very beneficial, it’s opened my mind towards an active schools and given me the motivation to report back to the wider school team”
The sessions also provided valuable opportunities to deepen understanding of whole-system approaches and systems leadership – exploring how these ways of working can help create lasting whole-school change, embedding movement and wellbeing into the fabric of school life.
Why these events matter
Events like the CoL/Lab provide the time and space for educators to step outside their daily routines and learn together, share what works, challenge assumptions, and see new possibilities. They remind us that changing people is what changes the system and that collective action across schools is what helps create the conditions for schools to be healthier, happier, and more active places to learn.
The events are designed to:
- Providing on-going skill development
- Create space to learn together
- Inspire people to see how doing things differently can make impactful change
- Share learning from the Middle Leaders programme – bringing their work to life, and sharing the impacts
Collaboration across the system
The afternoon allowed schools the time and space to come together to share ideas and insights on how we can continue to grow and develop each local School Sport Partnership across East Lancashire. Exploring how the networks can operate at their for our children and young people.
“It was fantastic for all districts to be together today. The opportunities to network are so beneficial when we are all so busy! Our head teacher came too, and the sessions were really helpful. AMAZING, thank you”
Celebrating Our Ready Set Move Middle Leaders
A special mention goes to our inspiring Ready Set Move Middle Leaders from across all our cohorts, who proudly wore their Ready Set Move kit and came together to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate their achievements. Their energy, curiosity, and commitment continue to inspire others to take that first step – from nothing to something, and something to more.
