I noticed last weekend that national doughnut week (18 to 26 May) coincides with walk to school week (20 to 24 May). With concerns over childhood obesity never far from the headlines, and so many studies of the positive impacts of exercise on mental health there is no small irony here. The Summer term offers a welcome opportunity to use outside space and perhaps consider slightly more extravagant athletic activities to ignite an interest in exercise. I confess I always find the sight of children dusting off the javelins or leaping at hurdles slightly alarming, but there is no doubt that the newness of activity alone can generate excitement and renewed interest in sport. Sports days, and National Sports Week in June, give schools license to organise sporting experiences that their pupils might have never otherwise have had. It is often noted that private schools offer superior sporting facilities, but it is not beyond the reach of maintained schools to plan and offer something different that will bring the curriculum alive and build social capital. Not everyone will get the chance to play polo but why not fencing or rowing?

The Ofsted PE subject report last year gave an overall positive reflection of the commitment of maintained schools across the UK to ensuring sufficient curriculum time is given to PE, albeit sometimes without sufficient consideration of the coherence of activity. There are already ambitious and innovative approaches to integrating PSE themes and social values, including accredited life skills awards into the PE curriculum in some Camden schools.

I would be the last person to stop school staff from enjoying national doughnut week, particularly in the name of raising money for the Children’s Trust – and I am sure that some would argue eating a doughnut supports mental wellbeing. I hope however that we can also spare a thought to offering Camden young people the chance to try a sport they have never tried before in the coming term!

Stephen Hall

Chief Executive Officer, Camden Learning