A Harpenden primary school has launched a playground running track which children will lap every day to get fit and healthy.
Pupils at Sauncey Wood Primary School will be encouraged to run around the course five times during the school day, every day. This adds up to a mile jog over 15 minutes, five times a week.
The £15,000 Daily Mile initiative was funded by a donation from the Friends of Sauncey Wood, along with contributions from the school.
Headteacher Steve Lloyd said a healthy body is linked to a healthy mind: “What we are about here at Sauncey Wood Primary School is giving children opportunities to learn inside the classroom and learn outside the classroom.
“One of the things I am passionate about is healthy mind-set, healthy lifestyle, and creating positive thoughts around what they can do to improve the healthy lifestyle that they have.”
The track has been in the running for about a year.
He added: “One of the things I want to do is make this sustainable.
“I think lots of children spend a lot of their time sat behind computers, on tablets, watching TV and I think this is really important to instil that [healthy lifestyle] for their future growth when they start to think about what it is they want to do.”
Mr Lloyd thanked the Friends of Sauncey Wood for their generous donation, which was accumulated by fundraisers.
The children complete the run in their school uniforms and at their own pace. Teachers will take the ages of the students into account and younger years may only do one lap of the track.
There are now more than 3,100 schools around the world participating in The Daily Mile, including more than 750 in England.
A spokesperson from The Daily Mile Foundation said: “We’re thrilled that Sauncey Wood Primary School has committed to The Daily Mile programme for their children.
“They are joining schools across the UK - all of whose children enjoy the benefits of running outside for 15 minutes every day whether in their playgrounds, on existing paths or on a new track such as the one just installed by Sauncey Wood.
“We believe this will ensure that The Daily Mile becomes embedded into the school’s culture for many years to come.”
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