North Yorkshire Sport is pleased to share a newly published international research paper developed following the Whole School Physical Activity (WSPA) Conference 2024, hosted by the University of Bradford.
As part of the WSPA2024 conference, North Yorkshire Sport joined colleagues from local, regional, national and international organisations in a series of co-production workshops focused on improving physical activity opportunities for children and young people.
The conference brought together policymakers, researchers and practitioners from 16 countries, creating a unique opportunity to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with building more active, healthier school communities.
Working collaboratively, delegates developed 24 recommendations for policy, practice and research, designed to support the implementation of effective Whole School Physical Activity approaches. These recommendations were shaped around six key themes:
- Systems thinking
- Collaboration
- Equity
- Evidence-informed action
- Knowledge mobilisation
- Capacity building
The recommendations provide valuable insights for organisations working across education, public health, physical activity, sport and children’s services. They emphasise the importance of:
- Adopting whole-system approaches that connect education, health and community sectors.
- Securing long-term investment and sustainable leadership to support lasting change.
- Reducing inequalities through targeted support for children and communities who face the greatest barriers to being active.
- Embedding physical activity within school culture and everyday practice, rather than viewing it as a standalone activity.
For North Yorkshire Sport and its partners, the findings reinforce the importance of collaborative approaches that place physical activity at the heart of school life and support positive outcomes for children and young people.
The newly published paper and accompanying recommendations offer a practical framework to help inform local and regional policy development, strategic planning and partnership working. We encourage colleagues and organisations across our networks to explore the findings and consider how they can be applied to support healthier, more active school communities.
Niall O’Brien Education Lead
“Having read the recent Whole-School Physical Activity (WSPA) 2024 publication earlier this week, it has been great to see how closely our work aligns with the six conditions identified as essential for sustainable systems change.
What was particularly reassuring was recognising that many of the principles underpinning our work on WSPA and, more recently, Active Travel, are already aligned with what international researchers, policymakers and practitioners are identifying as the foundations of lasting change.
I’m also proud that North Yorkshire Sport were able to play a small part in contributing to the conversations that helped shape the recommendations within the publication”
Find out more: The full research paper and recommendations are now available and provide a valuable resource for anyone involved in developing physical activity, education and health strategies for children and young people.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12966-026-01937-6
