Why MOVE60?

• Only 44.6% of young people average 60 minutes of physical activity every day whilst 32.4% do less than 30 minutes a day (Sport England, 2022)

• 11-14 year olds are spending up to 9 hours a day engaged in screen time activities (CDC, 2018)

• Obesity rates amongst children are rising, with 38% now considered overweight as they enter secondary school (Public Health – OHID, 2023)

• Young people who are inactive for large proportions of the day throughout adolescence face a greater risk of depression (The Lancet Psychiatry, 2020)

• In 2022, 18.0% of children aged 7 to 16 years had a probable mental disorder (NHS Digital, 2022)

Unlike many subjects in the National Curriculum, PE is uniquely positioned to assist in tackling many of the issues affecting the health and wellbeing of young people. The overwhelming body of evidence linking active lives with positive health outcomes presents PE practitioners with an opportunity to make a sizeable impact on the quality and longevity of pupils’ lives.

• Physical activity builds confidence and social skills, improves concentration and learning, improves coordination, maintains healthy weight, improves health and fitness, strengthens muscles and bones, improves sleep and gives the feel-good factor (UK Chief Medical Officer, 2019)

• Increasing aerobic physical activity for children with obesity can reduce risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease even if they do not lose weight (Royal College of Nursing, 2019)

• Physical activity reduces the risk of children and adolescents experiencing depression and significantly reduces depressive symptoms in sufferers (WHO, 2020)

• Pupils who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance e.g. memory, and classroom behaviours e.g. on-task behaviour (CDC Healthy Schools, 2022)

• Being physically active helps all people, no matter their age, lead healthier lives. Some physical activity is better than doing none (World Health Organization, 2023)

However, PE in its current form is failing to inspire all pupils to become active people. Traditional curriculums that focus heavily on the teaching of competitive sports and activities as a means to promote healthy, active lifestyles are clearly not working. In fact, research suggests that predominantly sports-based PE programmes are likely to be responsible for turning many pupils away from physical activity altogether.

MOVE60 is a pioneering curriculum that is on a mission to make sure every child belongs in a PE setting and feels encouraged to start where they are on a journey towards a more active life. Each lesson has been carefully designed to develop understanding about the role physical activity plays in optimising health and wellbeing, whilst offering ample opportunity for pupils to bank valuable minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity along the way.

The curriculum is unique in the way it considers the pupil experience of movement and exercise. MOVE60 offers guidance and activities to ensure everyone feels included, challenged and supported when exploring their own physical capabilities, irrespective of competencies or fitness levels. The aim is always to shift attitudes and inspire lasting behaviour change through positive active experiences, so fun, community, personal achievement and teamwork are central themes throughout.

MOVE60 is suitable for Key Stage 3 PE classes in schools of all types. It can also be delivered as a games option for pupils not currently motivated by team sports. The initial unit provides a coherent half term’s worth of lessons and resources that are simple to follow for all teachers, including those with limited or no experience of delivering in this area. Nothing else is required – just a commitment to promote active wellbeing for all pupils and a desire to make a difference that will last a lifetime.