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Ballykeel Primary School & Nursery Unit

P5AR tackle the Daily Mile Challenge

28th Nov 2017

What’s The Daily Mile? 

Quite simply, it is walking/ running a mile a day. It is an English initiative, quite common in primary schools. 

“The aim of the Daily Mile is to improve the physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of our children – regardless of age, ability or personal circumstances.
It is a profoundly simple but effective concept, which any primary or nursery school can implement completely free of charge and without the need for staff training. Its impact can be transformational – improving not only the children’s fitness, but also their concentration levels, mood, behaviour and general wellbeing.
Research has shown that The Daily Mile can even increase attainment in primary school, and parents have reported an increased interest in health and wellbeing from their children after they have started The Daily Mile.”

This is what athletes had to say about the Daily Mile:

  • It's such a simple yet effective initiative - within a month the children are much fitter, and feel happier and more confident in themselves. By instilling these healthy habits at a young age, we're helping our children to live full and healthy lives.
Christian Malcolm, World and European 200m Medallist

    * Getting children active at a young age is key to setting them up for a healthy lifestyle. The Daily Mile is so simple. There’s no set up, tidy up, or equipment required. Children simply run outside in the fresh air. It’s fully inclusive; every child, whatever their circumstances, age or ability, succeeds at The Daily Mile.
Michaela Breeze, Commonwealth Games Weightlifting Gold Medalist

    * Increasing opportunities to be physically active during the school day is key to ensuring our children are healthy and well. We are supporting the Daily Mile in Wales as a simple and innovate approach to help children be more active, more often.
Dr. Frank Atherton, Chief Medical Officer, Medical Director NHS Wales

    * Physically active children and young people perform better academically than their inactive peers and those who are most active benefit the most.
Dr Richard Bailey, International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education

    * It’s such an easy concept to put in place. Even if it’s not a measured mile, just get them running for 10 or 15 minutes. If you do that daily, you’ll get fit kids. It’s a no-brainer. I hope all primaries and secondaries start it, with two or even three miles at secondaries
Andy Vernon, Olympic 10,000m cross country runner

    * I believe The Daily Mile will have a huge impact on young people's lives, helping children across the UK to be fitter, healthier and happier. I'm delighted to be supporting The Daily Mile, and hope that every child has the opportunity to take part in this fantastic initiative.
Colin Jackson, Olympic 110m hurdles Medallist

  • We started last week and are now running 2 laps of the football pitch every day. 
  • It takes us less than 10 min and we are improving daily!
  • Our top athletes are Jamie Quigley, Carter Murray and Corey Quigley. The fastest girls are Jane Church, Kyla Stewart and Kayleigh Mooney.