Active School Week

Active School Week: Promoting Physical Activity in Irish Schools

Active School Week is an initiative in Ireland that promotes physical activity and encourages students to engage in various forms of exercise during a dedicated week in the school calendar. This program aims to foster a positive relationship between students and physical activity, ultimately contributing to their overall health and well-being.

Quick Facts

When is it?: The final working week of April
Tagged as: Health and fitness initiative
What’s the hashtag?: #ActiveSchoolWeek
When was it founded?: 2009
Who founded it?: Active School Flag program, supported by the Department of Health and the Department of Education

History of Active School Week

Active School Week was launched as part of the Active School Flag program, which began in 2009. The initiative was created to address the growing concern of sedentary lifestyles among Irish school children. By dedicating a week to physical activities, the program aims to instill healthy habits and promote the importance of regular exercise.

Timeline

2009: Active School Flag program launched
2011: Former Sports Minister Leo Varadkar launches Active Sports Week
2025: Active School Week scheduled for April 21-25

Upcoming Dates

Year	Month and Date	Day
2025	April 21-25	Monday
2026	April 20-24	Monday
2027	April 19-23	Monday
2028	April 24-28	Monday
2029	April 23-27	Monday
2030	April 22-26	Monday

How Active School Week is Observed

Schools across Ireland participate in various physical activities and events during Active School Week. These may include:

Extended PE sessions
Outdoor games and sports
Dance classes
Fitness challenges
Active breaks between lessons
Community walks or runs
Workshops on healthy lifestyles

Fun Facts About Active School Week

There are no medals or trophies awarded during Active School Week, emphasizing participation over competition.
The program reaches over 670 schools across Ireland.
Activities are designed to be inclusive, catering to students of all abilities.
Many schools replace traditional homework with physical activity tasks during this week.

Quiz

In which month does Active School Week typically take place?
What government departments support the Active School Flag program?
How many minutes of daily physical activity does the program aim to promote for children?

(Answers: 1. April, 2. Department of Health and Department of Education, 3. 60 minutes)

FAQs

Q: Can parents participate in Active School Week activities?
A: Yes, many schools encourage parent involvement to promote family-wide physical activity.

Q: Is Active School Week only for primary schools?
A: No, it’s for primary, post-primary, YouthReach, and special needs education schools in Ireland.

Importance of Active School Week

Active School Week plays a crucial role in promoting physical health, mental well-being, and social interaction among students. By breaking the routine of sedentary classroom activities, it helps children develop a positive attitude towards exercise and encourages them to maintain an active lifestyle beyond the school environment.