Spring = exam season and, understandably, the focus in schools usually shifts to revision sessions to help make sure students get the best results possible.
Sometimes, that means that PE and sports get a little bit forgotten about (or even outright bumped to make way for cramming sessions). Here’s why access to physical activity is even more crucial during exam season.
During exam season
Firstly, let’s talk about the benefits of physical activity while students are actually studying for and taking their exams.
One undeniable benefit of physical activity is that it releases tension and stress.
More than that, it releases endorphins, making us happier and more energetic. Which is super important for students (and teachers) during the long slog that is exam season.
Encouraging students to take regular breaks to enjoy some physical activity during exam season (whether that’s while they’re revising, or before and after exams) will help to keep them relaxed (or at least, as relaxed as they can be).
Regular exercise also releases chemicals vital for memory, concentration and mental sharpness.
And, of course, regular exercise helps improve the quality of sleep – the importance of which for teenagers taking exams really can’t be overestimated.
All of that’s amazing and makes a strong argument for why students should have access to PE and school sports during the exam period.
But did you know that the benefits of physical activity for helping students achieve academically start way before they go on revision leave?
Benefits are years in the making...
The Youth Sport Trust have put together a fascinating evidence paper (‘The Link Between Physical Activity and Attainment in Children and Young People’) looking at the academic and attainment benefits for children of being physically active.
In it, they discuss how studies have found that the amount of moderate to vigorous activity that 11-year-olds can impact their academic performance in English and maths (and science too for girls) right through to their GCSEs.
They go on to say that being more active also seems to have positive benefits for attention (especially for boys) and brain function, as well as general health and well-being.
Research highlighted in the paper also seems to indicate that students who do more regular physical activity are better at self-regulating (and this quality is linked to higher academic achievement).
This basically means that children who are more physically active are better at making sure they do what they need to do to succeed.
And although all moderate to vigorous activity is beneficial, the paper points to research suggesting that sports which are more cognitively challenging (perhaps involving some element of problem solving, for example) are even more beneficial, producing greater and more sustainable improvements in executive function (the ability to organise thoughts to achieve a goal).
Download your free classroom poster
We’ve designed this classroom poster to help students understand why physical activity is so important during exams (and to help you remind the school community why PE and school sports are important aids to academic success).
Make sure you download your free copy today.
Want to get your students excited about sports?
Take a look at our huge variety of school sports tours or get in touch to get the ball rolling.