Ministers McEntee and Murnane O’Connor launch the Skip around Europe challenge
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From: Department of Education
- Published on: 31 March 2025
- Last updated on: 31 March 2025
Minister for Education, Helen McEntee and Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor today (Monday) launched the Skip around Europe challenge as part of the Active School Flag programme.
Every spring, Active School Flag promotes a four-week initiative, that supports schools to find ways to integrate physical activity with teaching and learning. This year’s challenge, ‘Skip Around Europe’, starts on Monday 31 March, taking place the two weeks before and the two weeks after the Easter break.
‘Skip Around Europe’ is a whole-of-school challenge, prioritising participation, inclusion and fun. All classes, at all class levels, are encouraged to build a short daily skipping break into their school day. Working together, their combined skips will bring them to many of the capital cities across Europe, opening rich learning opportunities across many different subject areas.
Minister McEntee said:
“The ‘Skip Around Europe’ challenge’ is a fantastic way to keep active and learn and I urge all schools to take part. Physical activity is crucially important when it comes to our health and wellbeing, and this challenge is a great way to blend physical activity with academic learning. I want to thank all the schools who have registered so far and all the school communities who are making this fantastic initiative happen. I would especially like to encourage special schools to participate in this year’s challenge. Specialised advice is now available to ensure that children of all abilities can take part alongside their peers, so I would encourage everyone to give it a try.”
Minister Murnane O’Connor said:
“The Active School Flag programme has been a key component of our Healthy Ireland goals in terms of improving children’s activity levels and wider health and wellbeing. As it continues to grow and expand, we are committed to continued support through the Healthy Ireland Fund and in partnership with our colleagues in the Department of Education. The “Skip Around Europe” challenge is a great event which combines both physical activity and learning and I want to wish everyone an enjoyable experience while taking part.”
Schools can register for the challenge on the Active School Flag website. Registered schools will gain access to a wide range of resources and supports, available in both English and Irish. These include a series of skipping tutorial videos, catering for all ages and all ability levels, from pre-skipping to advanced.
Specialised advice is available to ensure that students with additional needs can participate in the challenge.
Schools that register, participate and showcase their engagement with this four-week challenge will be entered the ‘#SkipAroundEurope Participation Awards draws. One climbing wall per county will be awarded. Winners will be announced on 9 May.
SkipAroundEurope is a Healthy Ireland funded initiative.
Please visit the Active School Flag website for more information and to register your school to participate.
Please use the #SkipAroundEurope to share your photos and videos online.
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Active School Flag (ASF) is an initiative of the Department of Education, supported by Healthy Ireland and administered through Mayo Education Centre. It aims to get more schools, more active, more often by encouraging schools to take part in physical activity participation initiatives and by offering an accreditation process for primary, special schools and (in-development) post primary schools.