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March 2011
For immediate release
Playgrounds increase fitness and performance in the
classroom
Child obesity could be significantly reduced and participation
in the classroom increased
by the installation of specially designed playground facilities
in schools, according to
research by Leeds Metropolitan University.
Professor Jim McKenna, Professor of Sport at Leeds Metropolitan
University, who
specialises in promoting physical activity, found that for every
class of 28 the equivalent of 4
inactive pupils became more active in response to new playground
facilities. In addition,
independent observers, class teachers and head teachers all
reported that pupils increased
playground participation and enjoyment during class.
Professor McKenna said: As well as noticing how children had
become more active after
the new playgrounds were installed, both teachers and head
teachers noted important spin -off benefits for school behaviour.
These benefits included better classroom behaviour and
more sociable and collaborative play periods. A number also
reported seeing more potential
among some children because of their changed behaviour in the
playground. Some schools
even changed their pre -school practices to open earlier (at 8
am) to allow children increased
access to the playgrounds.
Up to now, female participation in physical activity at break
times had been a long -standing
problem. Yet, both boys and girls increased their participation
equally. Across the schools,
the biggest changes in child behaviour occurred when schools
changed their systems and
trained members of staff to work with pupils at break times.
The 12 month study monitored the installation of new playground
facilities in 163 schools in
the South East through interviews with pupils and teachers and
through observations.
Professor McKenna added: There are growing concerns about
childhood inactivity and
accompanying rates of childhood obesity. This study shows the
value of investing in
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rejuvenating decaying playgrounds in state scho ols. Children
not only became more active,
but also their classroom behaviour improved and this effect was
reported by independent
observers, by class teachers and by head teachers. This makes
the findings all the more
credible. Despite funding shortages t he findings suggest that
playground rejuvenation is one
of the best - and cheapest - ways to make a difference to pupils
health and their experience
of school. The study also poses some interesting questions about
what others ways might
be used to encoura ge exercising among pupils. These changes may
offer more keys that
unlock the problems of inactivity, obesity and poor classroom
behaviour.
Ends
For further details please contact Helen Goodwin in the News and
Media team at Leeds Met
on 0113 812 5935 or email [email protected]
Notes for editors:
y Leeds Metropolitan University has 30,000 students and over
300,000 associate
students through its partnerships with 24 colleges.
y The University has achieved its best ever Research Assessment
Exercise results.
Sports-Related Studies is in the top 6 institutions in the
country with research rated at
the highest levels of 4* and 3*.
y The Universitys award-winning learning environments include
the iconic Rose Bowl
building, awarded Best Commercial Property Development in the
2009 Yorkshire
Property Awards; Broadcasting Place, winner of the 2010 Leeds
Architecture Awards
New Building category and the pioneering Carnegie Village
student a ccommodation.
Broadcasting Place was also voted the best tall building in the
world in 2010.
y Leeds Metropolitan is one of only a handful of UK universities
to have been awarded
the Carbon Trust Standard.
y The University is home to The UK Centre for Coaching
Excellence for sport and
disability sport and is 2nd in the British University and
Colleges Sport (BUCS)
rankings.
