A SCHEME pioneered at a school in Scotland to battle child obesity and get children fit and healthy is being rolled out at St Polycarp’s School in Farnham – the first school in Surrey to take on the project.

The ‘daily mile’ scheme aims to get children to run or walk a mile every day. St Polycarp’s does not have an obesity problem and is focusing more on getting children fit and healthy, both physically and mentally.

The aim is that every child shall be able to run or speed walk a mile by the time they leave year six.

St Polycarp’s is the first school in Surrey to start the mile challenge and the school has been asked to present it to other Surrey schools at the next Surrey Sports Conference in March.

The children record the number of laps they complete and the time it has taken, as a goal to beat during their next run – staff are also given the opportunity to join the children as they run or walk around the pitch.

Head of sports and PE and deputy-head Karen Trafford, said: “It is all about keeping fit and healthy. The effects are noticeable, the children have become more resilient since starting the project and we have already noticed in English and maths that the children are much calmer.

“It has been amazing and we have an all-weather pathway which is great. They don’t get changed, they run in their school uniform, which will prepare them also when they have to run for work in their work uniform.

“What is lovely is when some of the children who have finished go back and partner up with those still running to help and encourage them to keep going and finish.”