Schools are being encouraged to improve physical activity levels among pupils as new data has shown that students that are physically active report improvements to their schoolwork, behaviour and mental health compared to inactive students.

Sport England, Activity Alliance, Association for Physical Education and the Youth Sport Trust have released new data that reveals 92 per cent of staff believe that being physically active helps with school work and 91 per cent of students report they feel that being physically active can improve their mental and physical health.

The research was collected by Sheffield Hallam University on attitudes of 76,085 students and 5,955 teachers as part of Sport England’s Secondary Teacher Training Programme, which provides funding and access to professional development opportunities for all PE teachers to support them to design and deliver PE, school sport and physical activity that best suits student’s needs.

Becky Underwood, PE and school sport lead for Active Cumbria said: “It is great to see support from Sport England available to secondary schools in Cumbria, I know many have already attended and benefitted from this training and hope that more are able to take up this offer.

"It can be difficult to keep students engaged in activity as they move up the year groups, this opportunity gives teachers some really good tools and ideas."