Creating Active Schools: A whole-school approach

By Jess Simons | 18 June 2025 | TAGS: creating active schools, Children and young people, "primary schools", education, "Physical Activity"

Across Greater Manchester, schools are shifting how they think about movement. What began as a bold question — What would it take to embed physical activity into the whole school day? — is now an active journey for over 50 schools. 

At the heart of this is the Creating Active Schools (CAS) framework, a whole-school approach designed to weave movement into the fabric of the school day, from lessons and playtimes to leadership and culture.  

A shared response to a shared challenge 

In 2021, Sport England’s Active Lives data highlighted a concern: just 45.9% of children and young people in Greater Manchester were reaching 30 minutes of physical activity during the school day. This matters for physical health and mental wellbeing, including confidence, and connection to learning. 

Greater Manchester Moving, alongside our system partners, knew a different approach was needed, one that went beyond PE lessons and after-school clubs. 

Inspired by a successful pilot in Bradford and supported by a growing national movement, CAS provided a foundation. The framework encourages schools to reflect, question, and reimagine how they support every child to move more.  

From idea to action 

Since 2021, the CAS approach has grown steadily across Greater Manchester, supported by strategic leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and the vital work of the Active Education Lead Network. (AEL) The AEL role funded by GM moving has been key in driving and delivering on this approach. The CAS work has added value to the schools and communities they know inside out and compliments their existing work they do as School Games Organisers and School Sport Partnership leads.  

Today, 56 primary settings, including a special educational needs school and a pupil referral unit, are on the whole school approach journey. Of these: 

• 22 schools are using CAS licences and the digital platform to guide their practice. 

• 34 schools are supported by Active Education Leads, tailoring the approach to local needs and strengths. 

In each of these schools, small but significant changes are taking shape. Uniforms are being rethought to allow more movement, breaktimes redesigned, and staff supported to see activity as an enabler of learning. 

“We’ve seen this approach become a catalyst for change. Schools aren’t just fitting activity in  they’re building movement into their whole culture.” - Craig Vickers, Strategic Lead for Creating Active Schools, GM Moving

Seeing the impact 

Early signs are promising. Schools report: 

• Greater engagement from children who were previously less active 

• Improved focus and behaviour in the classroom 

• Positive shifts in attendance and learning outcomes 

• Increased confidence among teachers and parents in the value of active learning 

Crucially, CAS is helping tackle inequality by creating more inclusive, accessible opportunities for every child to move, regardless of their background, ability, or circumstance. 

Looking ahead 

As boroughs continue to develop their Sport England Place Partnership work, many are choosing CAS as an approach that can support their ambitions linked to children and young people. Links are being made with Healthy Schools programmes, cross-sector priorities, and wider strategies for education, health, and equity. 

“We know this works — but change takes time. This is about culture, leadership and mindset, not quick fixes.” - Jessica Simons, Active Children Lead, GM Moving 

A shared effort 

The success of CAS so far has been possible thanks to strong local leadership, collaborative working, and a shared belief that movement matters for health, and for how children feel, learn, and grow. 

As one school leader put it: 

“We’re not adding something extra — we’re reimagining what a healthy, successful school looks like.” 

Get involved 

This work needs investment in capacity. Those who support the health, wellbeing, and education of children and young people (CYP) in boroughs must see the value of this approach in reaching these goals. To make it last, schools need support and guidance to make smart decisions that ensure all CYP can be active during the school day.  

Is your borough, school or partnership ready to explore a whole school approach? 

• Read more about the impact of CAS in GM in our Year 1 report and Year 2 report  

• See CAS in Action in this video  

• Learn more about the CAS framework and how it works 

• Read more in our Stockport case study 

Together, we can keep building a system that helps every child in Greater Manchester move more — and feel the benefits, every day.