Active mile briefing: evidence and policy summary

The evidence base surrounding active mile initiatives is evolving, and further research is needed to be able to draw firm conclusions. However, the evidence reviewed in this document indicates that active mile initiatives:

• are intuitively appealing to schools as a means of providing regular physical activity and have high levels of acceptability among teachers and pupils
• provide a simple physical activity opportunity for pupils which is suitable for all ages and are fully inclusive
• can make a meaningful contribution to the in-school delivery of 30 active minutes and the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation of an average of at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day across the week
• can contribute to improvements in children’s health and wellbeing if implemented as part of a whole school approach to physical activity
• should provide an additional opportunity to be active during the school day, they are not equivalent to and should not replace Physical Education (PE).