Active Bodies, Active Minds

The report concluded there is clear evidence that physically active young people:

·       Engage more in learning

·       Stay in school longer

·       Have higher levels of achievement

·       Experience higher levels of mental wellbeing.

Below is a brief summary of some of the report’s findings.

Physical activity and academic success

Physical activity and increased fitness levels can positively impact academic outcomes across a wide range of subject areas, including numeracy, literacy, language development and overall academic performance.

Physical activity and cognition (thinking)

Increasing physical activity and fitness levels is beneficial to brain structure, function and cognition (thinking).

Aerobic exercise and increased fitness levels:

·       Can increase the growth, density and efficiency of the regions of the brain that support attention to task demands, memory, learning and time on task

·       Can enhance thinking processes

·       Can improve blood flow in the areas of the brain used for learning and memory.

Physical activity and school engagement and attendance

Attendance and engagement are intrinsically linked to education success.  Research internationally and in New Zealand has found that increasing physical activity can improve social skills, a sense of belonging and identity, classroom engagement and increase attendance rates.  Many of these benefits continue through to adult years, better-equipping individuals to reach their potential.

International evidence suggests a positive relationship between participation in physical activity (especially sport) and improved social skills, communication skills, teamwork, resilience and pro-social behaviour.

Participation in sport correlated with greater employability compared with those who did not engage in sport.

Students who are more physically active had better attendance rates at school compared to those who were less active.

Physical activity and mental health

International studies consistently report that physical activity can improve mental health and reduce mental illness.

Physical activity influences psychological outcomes, including lower levels of depression and stress and increases in positive psychological wellbeing – improved self-image, higher levels of life-satisfaction, greater resilience, increased happiness and higher levels of self-esteem.

Participation in sport, especially team sport, is associated with improved social and mental health outcomes including sense of belonging, self-esteem, happiness, social skills, depression, anxiety, confidence and competence compared with outcomes for non-sport participants.

Palmerston North Boys' High School data from 2023 showed the impact of involvement in co-curricular activities. Young men involved in our co-curricular programme achieved, on average, higher grades in junior examinations and more NCEA credits at each level than their peers who were not involved in co-curricular activities. Young men who were involved in our co-curricular programme also had higher rates of attendance at school than those who were not involved. Once 2024 NCEA results have been finalised later this term we will analyse this and share the results with our community.

These are very compelling reasons to choose to be involved in co-curricular activities and we strongly encourage parents/guardians to be working with their sons to identify opportunities to get involved in the co-curricular life of the school.