Schools out for the Summer - Fit4Class end of term report!

Fit4Class is Athletics Ireland’s 10 week teacher led programme that introduces junior infants to fourth class to athletics in a fun, engaging and non-competitive environment. It focuses on the use of games to develop fitness whilst enhancing agility, balance and co-ordination.

In its first national roll-out from September 2016 to June 2017, 17,500 primary school students from 750 classes participated in the Fit4Class programme.

Primary school throughout Ireland participated in the programme this year, from small rural  island schools to large urban city schools. Each class received a Fit4Class programme booklet for the teacher and a class tracker to help monitor progress and motivate students.

Programme Coordinator Daniel Kilgallon “Fit4Class was developed to assist primary schools with the introduction of athletics to the school community. The programme offers teachers easy to follow session plans that can be delivered in a busy school environment in tandem with other sports. Fit4Class focuses on agility, balance and coordination, all fundamental to longer term physical athletic development. The programme has been very well received by participating schools.

As the school year comes to a close Athletics Ireland visited Holy Child National School, Larkhill Road, Whitehall, Dublin where the Junior Infants, Senior Infants and second Class were completing week 10 of the programme.

Senior Infant teacher Brendan Reilly put the students through their paces. Following their final session the students were presented with their Fit4Class wristbands for successfully completing the programme.

Class teacher Brendan Reilly “I found the Fit4Class Programme to be very beneficial for my class. The programme was very well structured and engaged in a number of activities which developed their balance, agility and coordination skills as well as their fitness levels.  From a teaching point of view the ;layout and instructions for each activity was concise and easy to follow. The programme encompasses all areas of the athletics strand in the P.E Curriculum. I will be recommending the Fit4Class programme to all other teachers in my school”

Pat Ryan, Director of Development and Coaching “The Fit4Class programme has been extremely successful.  The initial roll-out involved over 17,000 school children. The success of the programme is dependent upon the commitment of the class teachers who deserve great credit for their efforts.  We look forward to working with the schools again to ensure even greater numbers get the opportunity to experience and enjoy athletics.“

Primary schools will be invited once again to register for Fit4Class in September for the 2017/2018 school year.