Ministers Foley, Byrne and Naughton launch Active Schools Week 2023

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD today launched details of this year’s Active School Week, together with Ministers of State, Thomas Byrne TD and Hildegarde Naughton TD.

National Active School Week #ASW23 takes place from 24-28 April. The programme encourages all schools to build Active School Week into their annual school calendars, with information, ideas and support for fun and inclusive events to encourage physical activity in the school community.

Olympians Aidan Walsh (boxing) and Rhys McClenaghan (gymnastics) will be leading the way, setting #ASW challenges for everyone that joins them at the online Olympians Live! Event on Thursday 26 April, with special sessions for primary and post-primary schools.

Minister Foley said:

“Active School Week is about fun and inclusive physical activity for all. It encourages schools to be creative in their planning, to reach out to students for their ideas and to approach their local community for support. As a nation, we need to find ways to get everyone moving more and sitting less.

“Active School Week gives ideas to teachers to find ways to energise the school day with regular active breaks and by integrating physical activity with learning.

“I would like to thank teachers and staff for all the work that they put in to making Active School Week such a memorable week for so many, for joining in the fun alongside their students and for setting physical activity challenges for their school community”

Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD said

“There are so many different ways to be active and ‘one size doesn’t fit all’. Decreasing youth physical activity levels is a worldwide problem which requires a collaborative response. Changing habits and getting people more active is a challenge and in addressing this challenge, there is a clear need to start at a young age, including in educational settings.

“It’s excellent to see the FAI, Table Tennis Ireland, the Olympic Federation of Ireland and the Irish Heart Foundation offer their support to #ASW23.”

Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton TD said:

“One of my priorities as Minister is the promotion of physical activity for children and young people as it helps support healthy growth and development.

“In a school setting, it is important that children develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours which are likely to enhance lifelong engagement in physical activity and good health. We are delighted to have the opportunity to continue to support Active School Week, as part of the Active School Flag, through the Healthy Ireland Fund and in partnership with our colleagues in Education.”

Being active is important for everyone’s wellbeing. Active School Week is a great opportunity for schools to promote the benefits of physical activity and demonstrate how important this is as part of a healthy school community. An energised school day also brings benefits to the teaching and learning process.

Active School Week challenges schools to organise fun and inclusive physical activity events, as well as find ways to promote ‘learning on the move’. The programme encourages both teachers and local heroes to set physical activity challenges for their school community. Visit website https://activeschoolflag.ie/asw22-active-school-week-2023/

ENDS

Notes for Editors

Active School Flag

Active School Flag (ASF) is an initiative of the Department of Education, supported by Healthy Ireland and administered through Mayo Education Centre. The aim of the programme is to get ‘more schools, more active, more often. ASF is awarded to schools that strive to achieve a physically educated and physically active school community.

Once awarded, ASF remains valid for a period of three years. Currently 809 primary schools, attended by 144,829 pupils, hold ASF status, with many more working towards the flag at present. A new ASF process for post primary process is in-development.

Website https://activeschoolflag.ie/

Twitter https://twitter.com/ActiveFlag

Healthy Ireland

Healthy Ireland is a major Government-led initiative which aims to create an Irish society where everyone can enjoy physical and mental health, and where wellbeing is valued and supported at every level of society. Under Healthy Ireland, the National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) is led by the Departments of Health and of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, in partnership with a range of other key stakeholders including the Department of Education. Encouraging more schools to participate in the Active School Flag is a key objective of the plan.

Website https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/healthy-ireland/

#ASW23 Ideas and Inspiration

All of the #ASW23 resources, ideas and supports are accessible here:

ASW23 Website Page https://activeschoolflag.ie/asw23-active-school-week-2023/

#TableTennisTakeOver (April 28)

The aim of the #TableTennisTakeOver day is to give as many students and staff as possible the opportunity to play table tennis at school. This initiative is supported by Table Tennis Ireland.

About #TableTennistakeOver https://activeschoolflag.ie/events/feelgoodfridays-local-hero-2-2/

Table Tennis Ireland https://tabletennisireland.ie/

FAI Futsul and Walking Football

FAI Futsul is aimed at primary schools. Walking Football is being piloted by the FAI at post-primary level.

FAI Futsul for #ASW23 https://activeschoolflag.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/FAI-Futsul-PDF-version.pdf

FAI Walking Football https://activeschoolflag.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/FAI-Walking-Football.pdf

Bizzy Breaks for #ASW23 (Irish Heart Foundation)

The Bizzy Breaks for #ASW23 web page includes a wide range of fun, creative and inclusive physical activity ideas suitable for primary schools.

Bizzy Breaks for #ASW23 https://irishheart.ie/schools/primary-schools/bizzy-breaks-for-active-school-week/

Olympians Live! Online Event (April 27)

This is a free online event for primary schools at 10 am and post-primary schools at 11 am, organised by the Dare to Believe Schools Programme.

About ‘Dare to Believe’ www.daretobelieve.ie/about/

Olympic Federation of Ireland https://olympics.ie/