Schools are clear that one of their aims for their physical activity programmes is to instil lifetime habits of exercise amongst their pupils. This is a logical and audible aim, and one that could impact upon the lives of all children - long after the results of school matches have been forgotten.

But programmes rarely appear to be designed with this in mind. Most adults who exercise do so sub maximally, and outside the context of competition. And yet much school activity is about exercising to exhaustion, and much teacher activity is about encouraging that. Science is...

"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime"

What is the purpose of PE lessons? This question is, of course, as old as the subject, but is especially relevant in schools which devote considerable time - within and beyond the timetable - to Games in addition.

Usually delivered indoors, often in short timeframes and to mixed ability classes, what can these lessons achieve? How do they justify their place in a crowded timetable, alongside additional time devoted...

Impacts of Exercise on Academic Performance

1. Impact on Brain Increased neurotransmitter activity improves alertness, concentration and motivation Exercise elevates levels of BDNF, which stimulates neuron growth, and encourage synapses to swell and make stronger connections BDNF causes brain cells to grow, connect and communicate Exercise produces new capillaries to increase cerebral blood flow Exercise increases size of myelin sheaths Activity increases stem cell activity in the hippocampus, which improves memory Exercise increases density of neural network Cellular impact of exercise on the brain is greater in children than adults 2. Impact of...