A HEALTH and fitness day held at St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School proved to be a huge success with staff and pupils.

An active young people sports development officer from the Vale of Glamorgan Council was on hand to deliver a range of health and fitness related activities. More than 500 pupils, along with staff from the school, spent the day taking part in a number of different fitness related activities.

The aim of the day was to raise awareness of the benefits of a healthy diet, and to consider the benefits of an active lifestyle.

The pupils had a choice of activities to take part in, with Cardio Core Tennis by Vale Tennis, Parkour by AIM, Insanity Style Fitness by 4 Personal Training, Military Fitness by HC Fitness, Spin Bikes by Aspire Fitness, Park Games, Inclusive Zone Basketball and the Alphabet Fitness Challenge on offer to raise heart rates.

Pupils from Year 7 to Year 10 were given further information about the activities from the Health and Fitness Day, so that they could get involved outside of school hours, in a drive to get more children across the Vale of Glamorgan active – a key aim of Sport Wales to get every child ‘Hooked on Sport for Life’.

Wales has one of the highest rates of obesity in the UK, which led teachers at the school to act, organising a day full of different physical activities.

Simon Jones, active young people sports development officer, said: “I think it’s brilliant that the school have dedicated a day to promoting health and well-being amongst its pupils and staff. The activities on offer highlighted that physical activity can be fun, as well as beneficial to your health. There are plenty of ways to keep fit that do not involve your traditional sports, and the day provided many great examples of alternative ways of doing this.”

For more information on physical activity in the Vale, please contact the Vale of Glamorgan Council's sports development department on 01446 704728 or kjdavies@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk