Free Running could be taught in UK schools

Heath and wellbeing are a cross cutting theme in the emerging Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. Amongst other things, I hope that this will lead to a diversification of activities that we find being offered by school PE departments. In particular I hope it leads to more outdoor education and outdoor learning in schools.

This interesting article from the Independent talks about how there has been ‘a successful three-year pilot project in London,’ to introduce Free Running into schools the report claims, ‘to have cut youth offending by as much as 30 per cent.’

Free running – the sport based on running and leaping over and across buildings and urban obstacles. Personally, I think this is a great idea and agree with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) when they say, "Anything that encourages young people to be active and try new challenges in a supervised environment will help them learn to manage risk. Free running is like any other activity in that it tests their limits. It is better they learn it in schools than on the streets."

Comments

[Stevie Boyle]

Ollie Parkour is being taught in Edinburgh schools I know somebody who provides that service he is an ex pupil of DGS, the philosophy behind Parkour is very relevant for school pupils, it’s about life management dealing with physical and mental obstacles. we did think about it at mobex but we just dont have the skill set at the moment

[David Muir]

Now if only we could get someone at ROSPA to make a similar pronouncement about unrestricted Internet access in schools... {Sorry, just a teensie bit off topic.}

This sounds like a great idea. I wasn't exactly sporty in school but I wonder if I would have taken to this more than the "Run round the games hall five times!" approach adopted by my PE teachers.

[guineapigmum]

I'm sure there was a game we used to play at school where we had to get round the room without touching the floor. It was easier in the gym where there was lots of stuff to climb on. Not quite Parkour but then PE was very restricted and unimaginative all that time ago.

[Outdoor Play Equipment]

Outdoor play equipment is a critical part of raising every child's physical fitness level. From climbing to balance to raised heart rate.