The University of Bedfordshire is working in partnership with the Alexander Trust to promote physical activity to children aged 10-14. 

This work is funded by the Alexander Trust and includes 11 schools throughout the Bedfordshire area.

The University of Bedfordshire has led a cutting edge research project into the health and wellbeing of over 250 school children.

The HAPPY (Health and Physical Activity Promotion in Youth) Study was funded by the Bedford Charity and the Old Bedford Students PT Association and over two years investigated the cardio metabolic health of more than 250 children.

Using the latest technology, we evaluated the direct impact of several strategies that reduce sedentary behaviour and encourage increased physical activity.

Our research promoted fitness, improved cardiovascular health and body composition as well as psychological health and wellbeing.

Parents, teachers and students are benefitting from the findings of the research as better health and physical education is now provided in the schools that took part in the study.

The results are increasingly affecting the decisions made in education policy and schools throughout the country.

Research by MacPhail has informed the practice of PE teachers, enabling them to structure lessons in an engaging way to ensure students gain the most benefit in the time available.

Further studies have included evaluating opinions of both students and teachers of the assessment options of physical education that goes beyond primary school.

Dr Daniel Bailey has examined the impact of sedentary behaviour and physical activity levels during the segmented school day in 10-14 year old children.

Dr Victoria Goodyear’s research generated a cooperative learning model to engage girls in physical education.

Dr Toni O’Donovan’s research is also important in supporting the achievement of pre-adolescent girls in contemporary society.

Ashley Casey has looked at the potential impact of student-designed games, and Stephen Harvey has established sport education as a pedagogical application for ethical development in physical education and youth sport.