In February, the jury visited five nominated primary and special primary schools. According to the jury, all the nominated schools demonstrate how an active school contributes to children’s health, well-being and development.

“All the nominated schools were impressive,” said the jury. “We saw schools where high-quality physical education forms the foundation, where dynamic school days ensure that pupils remain active, where physical activity after school is encouraged and where teams work together to create a school culture in which physical activity is a natural part of everyday life.”

Inspiring examples

During the jury visits, the jury saw a variety of inspiring approaches. For example, schools work with dynamic timetables, additional physical education lessons, active supervision during outdoor play and/or after-school sports programmes. Collaboration between specialist physical education teachers, classroom teachers, school management and partners from the local community also plays an important role. The jury also saw some wonderful examples of vocational students being deployed at schools to supervise physical activities.

It was notable that several special primary schools were among the nominees. They demonstrate that an active approach can contribute specifically to structure, calm, well-being and positive experiences of success for pupils.

Award for Aurora in Almere

The jury ultimately awarded the prize to Aurora primary school in Almere. “At this school, we saw that physical activity is truly embedded in policy, practice and the team. According to the teachers, their dynamic timetable creates more calm in the classroom and contributes to more effective, focused learning. We saw differentiated and varied physical education lessons, motor skills labs for both the lower and upper grades, and a sports programme during breaks. The school connects physical activity at school with physical activity outside school, including through the Daily Mile and an extensive range of after-school physical activities offered four times a week. In doing so, the school demonstrates that it understands its surroundings and the opportunities they offer. What impressed us was the strong and purposeful collaboration between a specialist physical education teacher, a full-time teaching assistant for physical activity and sport, and a committed female headteacher who actively builds support, drives cultural change and provides clear direction through a concrete four-year plan. According to the jury, this school is therefore an inspiration to other schools: an example of how a school can contribute to a lifetime of physical activity for every child,” said Anoek Adank, a jury member of the Active School Award on behalf of Fontys.

Stefanie Kruithof, head of Aurora, responded enthusiastically to receiving the award: “We have worked very hard for this. We started developing the dynamic school three years ago, and it is fantastic that this has been rewarded!”

About the Active School Award

With the Active School Award, the KVLO aims to inspire schools to make physical activity a natural part of education. An active school is characterised by:

  • High-quality physical education.
  • A dynamic school day with regular physical activity.
  • Encouraging physical activity before and after school hours.
  • Sustainable physical activity policy that is broadly supported within the school.

By showcasing good examples, the KVLO aims to contribute to a future in which every child develops good motor skills and engages in sufficient and regular physical activity every day, helping them feel good and develop an active lifestyle.