5 x 60 Homepage
What is 5x60?
5x60 is a Secondary School Sport scheme funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and managed by the Sports Council for Wales. The programme aims to encourage pupils who are not currently involved in extra curricula sport, at school, to participate on a regular basis. The aim, Inline with the Welsh Assembly Government's 'Climbing Higher' strategy is for pupils to take part in 5 x 60 minutes of exercise per week.
Why has it been introduced?
Health specialists have stated that young people who need to participate in 5 hours of physical activity per week in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, hence the programme's title '5x60'. The programme is an extension of the Sports Council for Wales' Dragon Sport Scheme, which facilitates the delivery of extra curricular sport and physical activities in primary school across Wales. Sports Council for Wales figures identify that only 24% of secondary school pupils participate in 5 x 60 minutes of physical activity per week. As a result children progressing from Dragon Sport into Year 7 are lacking opportunities to continue extra-curricular activity.
Getting Involved
Pupils
Your school 5x60 officer is Mr Owain Harpwood, who is based in the PE department 20 hours a week. Owain will have a timetable of activities that suit the pupil's needs. These activities can take place before school, lunchtime and after school.
Sixth Form/Parents/Wider Community
5x60 is hugely dependant on volunteers! From leading activities or helping leaders, to simply taking a register or being an extra pair of hands. benefits to you as a volunteer include the incentive of extra training and qualifications as well as the huge job satisfaction. Remember, the clubs you help to run or even set up yourself can begin a lifetime habit of exercise for young people, who otherwise may have been at risk from health problems relating to statutory lifestyles in later life.
If you would like to find out more contact Owain Harpwood on 01544 567259
5x60 at John Beddoes
Lunchtime Clubs
Weekly lunchtime activities have included street dance sessions delivered by a qualified instructor from POwys dance and average around 35 pupils per session.
Girls football has been popular, 18 girls have taken part and been coached by year 12 student rachel Venables who through the 5x60 programme has gained her FAW Leaders Award.
The Year 7 football sessions have been equally popular and have been led by Danny Pitts, Jamie Layton-Morris, Oliver Jones (all Year 11) and Rob Taylor (Year 13). Rob has gone on to complete his FAW Leader Award and Danny and Jamie will hopefully begin their awards in the new year.
Badminton sessions have consistently attracted over 30 pupils during Friday lunchtimes. The sessions have been supervised by Sixth Form volunteers Tom Davies, Holly Demyn, katie Cheung, Jodie Johnson, Eva Corbett, Sarah Bevan and Joanna Owen who consistently give up their own lunchtimes to give younger pupils extra curricular opportunities.
A girls rugby club has also been running at Friday lunchtimes with Miss Dyke who has (through the 5x60 programme) completed the Rugby Ready Course along with Mr Barnaby.
Most recently a netball league has been set up for Year 7 and 8, Miss Evans has been kind enough to giver up her lunch hour to umpire the league which has around 40 pupils involved on Thursday lunchtimes.
Evening Opportunities
Opportunities to participate outside of school hours are particularly important and 5x60 plays a key role in ensuring that pupils are aware of these opportunities. The role of 5x60 is to set up new clubs and advertise them to pupils within the school., It is also important to advertise existing clubs so that they attract new members and the young leaders trained by the programme.
Evening opportunities include a gym club for pupils at Knighton Leisure Centre on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The club is run by qualified instructors and has continued having started last year with support from the 5x60 programme.
Another of the clubs started last year in collaboration with 5x60 is the Knighton Football Academy on Wednesdays.
This year links have been made with the teen girls dance club at the Powys dance centre in Llandrindod Wells. The club will re-start in January and will be on a Tuesday evening at 6pm, it will be advertised to pupils offering a community opportunity for those who enjoy the lunchtime club at John Beddoes.
Having good links with East Radnorshire Leisure Centre in Presteigne it is hoped that further evening opportunities can be offered. A turn up and play tennis club will be up and running shortly, using the schools equipment and the leisure centre's sports hall.
Further, there are plans to run a gym club similar to that in knighton as well as a bronze medallion life savers award.
Other Events
Military Challenge Day for Year 10 (October 2008)
Gymnastics workshop and fund raiser for years 7 and 8 with a former British team member Stephen Lee (November 2008)
Military Challenge day for Year 11 (April 2009)
Skipping World Record Attempt
