irish life health schools’ fitness challenge · 2016 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 average 2013...

Irish Life HealthSchools’ Fitness

ChallengeBarometer 2017

irishlifehealth.ie/fitnesschallenge

About the Irish Life Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge

Since 2013, the Schools’ Fitness Challenge has helped Irish students become fitter, healthier and more energetic. The 2017 Schools’ Fitness Challenge invited secondary schools across the country to join us in highlighting the importance of fitness to our future health and to make increasing physical activity a national priority. At Irish Life Health, our aim is that young people will adopt a healthier and more active lifestyle, which will positively benefit their long term health.

There are three phases to the Irish Life Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge.

Initial fitness test to measure fitness levels

Six week training programme to help improve cardiovascular fitness levels

Repeat fitness test to measure new fitness levels

This year’s challenge was completed over 11 weeks from September to December 2017. The fitness levels of Irish secondary school students were assessed, with the aim of helping Ireland become a fitter and healthier nation.

This year more schools entered the challenge than ever before, which is good news for Irish children and the overall health of the nation. Irish Life Health would like to sincerely thank all of the principals and teachers for supporting this year’s challenge, and making a positive contribution to the health and wellness of Irish children.

1

2

3

Irish Life Health Schools' Fitness Challenge 1

Analysis of results

The aim of the Irish Life Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge is to highlight the importance of cardiovascular fitness for young people. The challenge also shows that improvements can be made with as little as 6 weeks of exercise and training.

The 2017 Irish Life Health Schools‘ Fitness Challenge

This year, 30,851 students(17,393 girls and 13,458 boys)took part in the challenge,with a total of 14,991(8,952 girls and 6,039 boys)completing all phases ofthe challenge.

13,458BOYS

17,393GIRLS

14,991COMPLETEDALL PHASES

30,851PARTICIPATED

6,039BOYS

8952GIRLS


The winners

Congratulations to all of the schools who took part in the 2017 Irish Life Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge. A huge well done from everyone in Irish Life Health to all of our winners.

This year, we’d also like to recognise the schools who came in second and third place. Congratulations on your results.

IRELAND’S FITTEST SCHOOL

Boys St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan Town

Girls Mount Anville Secondary School, Dublin

Mixed/Overall Gort Community School, Galway

FIRST PLACE

SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE

FITTEST SCHOOL

Boys Summerhill College, Sligo

Girls St. Louis Secondary Monaghan

Mixed St Michael's Community College, Clare

MOST IMPROVED SCHOOL

Boys Coláiste Choilm CBS, Dublin

Girls Coláiste Íosagáin, Dublin

Mixed Newpark Comprehensive School, Dublin

FITTEST SCHOOL

Boys Hamilton High School, Cork

Girls The Teresian School, Dublin

Mixed Coláiste Choilm, Cork

MOST IMPROVED SCHOOL

Boys Hamilton High School, Cork

Girls Loreto Abbey Dalkey, Dublin

Mixed Ardscoil Phadraig, Longford

IRELAND’S MOST IMPROVED SCHOOL

Boys/Overall St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan Town

Girls Loreto Secondary School, Wicklow

Mixed Gort Community School, Galway


7369

6771

6267

5462

4344

3846

4047

3746

6944

7144

6747

6246

Shuttle barometers

Average number of shuttle runs

Improvement levels

These barometers show the average number of shuttle runs completed by Irish boys and girls during phase 2 of the Irish Life Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge from 2013 to 2017. The ultimate target is recommended by the centre for Preventive Medicine, DCU.

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Average 2013

62

Average 2015

74

67Average

2014

46

67

68Average

2016

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Average 2013

38

Average 2015

43

42Average

2014

42Average

2016

70UltimateTarget

100UltimateTarget

BOYS

BOYS

BOYS

GIRLS

GIRLS

GIRLS

0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100

Average number of shuttle runs completed by boys and girls after 6 week training programme was completed.

Boys vs. Girls: 31% difference

Average number of shuttle runs completed by1st – 4th year boys and girls after 6 week training programme was completed.

1stYear2nd

Year3rd

Year4th

Year

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percentage improvement in fitness by boys after 6 week exercise programme. The percentage difference is between the 1st and 2nd bleep tests.

1stYear2nd

Year3rd

Year4th

Year

+11%

+9%

0%

0 20 40 60 80 100

Percentage improvement in fitness by girls after 6 week exercise programme.The percentage difference is between the 1st and 2nd bleep tests.

1stYear2nd

Year3rd

Year4th

Year

+18%

Phase 1 Phase 2 Improvement Phase 1 Phase 2 Improvement

+24%

+2%

+21%+3%


Coláiste Aindriú CarlowSt Aidans Comprehensive CavanSt Clare's College CavanVirginia College CavanKilrush Youthreach ClareScariff Community College ClareSt Flannan's College ClareSt Michael's Community ClareÁrdscoil Uí Urmoltai CorkBoherbue Comprehensive CorkCarrigtwohill Post Primary CorkCoachford College CorkColáiste Choilm CorkColaiste Ghobnatan CorkColáiste Pobail Bheanntrai CorkColaiste Treasa CorkDouglas Community School Cork

Gaelcholáiste Charra CorkMaria Immaculata Community College CorkMayfield Community School CorkMcEgan College CorkMidleton College CorkMillstreet Community CorkNagle Rice Secondary CorkScoil Beara CorkScoil Mhuire CorkScoil na mBráithre CorkSt Colman's Community CorkSt Fanahan's College CorkSt Mary's High School CorkSt. Brogan's College CorkThornhill College DerryAbbey Vocational School DonegalCrana College Donegal

Deele College DonegalErrigal College DonegalFinn Valley College DonegalGairm Scoil Chú Ulad DonegalLoreto Community School DonegalMagh Ene College DonegalSt Eunan's College DonegalSt. Catherine's Vocational Donegal

The Royal and Prior DonegalArdgillan Community DublinBalbriggan Community DublinBelvedere College DublinCastleknock College DublinChanel College DublinColáiste Bríde DublinColáiste Dhúlaigh DublinColáiste Eoin Dublin

Average 2017

67

Average 2017

46

Coláiste Ghlór na Mara DublinColáiste Íosagáin DublinColáiste Mhuire DublinDeansrath Community DublinDonabate Community College DublinFirhouse Community College DublinGaelcholáiste Reachreach DublinHansfield Education DublinHoly Child Community DublinJesus and Mary College DublinJohn Scottus Secondary DublinKingswood Community DublinKishoge Community College DublinLe Cheile Secondary DublinLoreto Abbey Secondary DublinLoreto College DublinMount Anville Secondary School DublinMuckross Park College DublinNewpark Comprehensive DublinOatlands College DublinPortmarnock Community DublinPresentation Community School DublinRathmines College DublinRosary College DublinRosmini Community School DublinSaint Dominic's Secondary DublinScoil Chaitriona DublinScoil Chiarain DublinSt Andrews College DublinSt Declan's College DublinSt Joseph's Secondary DublinSt Marys College DublinSt Michaels Secondary School DublinSt Raphaela's Secondary DublinSt Vincents C.B.S. G DublinSt. Kevins College DublinThe High School DublinThe Kings Hospital DublinThe Teresian School DublinTrintiy Comprehensive DublinArdscoil Mhuire GalwayColáiste Bhaile Chláir GalwayColáiste na Coiribe GalwayGlenamaddy Community GalwayGort Community School GalwayPresentation College GalwayScoil Chuimsitheach GalwaySt Brigids College GalwaySt Pauls GalwaySt Raphaels College Galway

St. Brigid's School GalwayCastleisland Community KerryCommunity College Killarney KerryMean Scoil Naomh Ioseph KerryMercy Secondary School KerryPresentation Secondary KerryScoil Phobail Sliabh KerrySt. Brigid's Secondary KerryTarbert Comprehensive KerryTransforum Alley KerryCelbridge Community KildareConfey Community College KildareCurragh Post-Primary KildareLeixlip Community School KildareMaynooth Community College KildarePiper's Hill College KildareScoil Dara KildareSt Conleth's Community KildareColáiste Cois Siúire KilkennyColáiste Pobail Osrai KilkennyGrennan College KilkennySt Kieran's College KilkennySt. Brigid's College KilkennyScoil Chriost Ri LaoisCarrigallen Vocational School LeitrimColaiste Mhichil LimerickColaiste Mhuire LimerickColáiste Nano Nagle LimerickGAELCHOLÁISTE LUIMNIGH LimerickKilmallock Youth LimerickSalesian Secondary College LimerickArdscoil Phadraig LongfordSt. Mel's College LongfordBallymakenny College LouthDundalk Grammar Schoool LouthSacred Heart Secondary LouthSt Vincent's Secondary LouthSt. Joseph's C.B.S. LouthBallinrobe Community MayoColaiste Chomain MayoJesus & Mary Secondart MayoMoyne College MayoSacred Heart School MayoScoil Muire Agus Padraig MayoSt Louis Community School MayoColáiste Clavin MeathColaiste na hInse MeathDe Lacy College MeathFranciscan College MeathLoreto Secondary School Meath

Ratoath College MeathSt Ciaran's Communit MeathSt Oliver Post Primary MeathBallybay Community College MonaghanInver College MonaghanSt Louis Secondary School MonaghanSt. Louis Secondary MonaghanSt. Macartan's College MonaghanColáiste Íosagáin OffalySt Mary's Secondary OffalySt Patricks OffalySt.Brendan's Community OffalyTullamore College OffalyAbbey Community Collge RoscommonC.B.S. Roscommon RoscommonElphin Community College RoscommonRoscommon Community RoscommonColáiste Iascaigh SligoCoola Post Primary School SligoMercy College SligoSummerhill College SligoUrsuline College SligoBorrisokane Communit TipperaryColáiste Mhuire Co-Ed TipperaryComeragh College TipperaryOur Ladys Secondary TipperaryPatrician Presentation TipperarySt. Alibe's School TipperarySt. Anne's Secondary School TipperaryThe Abbey School TipperaryUrsuline Secondary School TipperaryArd Scoil na nDeise WaterfordColáiste Chathail Naofa WaterfordOur Lady of Mercy Secondary School WaterfordSt Angela's Ursuline WaterfordMeán Scoil an Chloch WestmeathMoate Community School WestmeathOur Lady's Bower WestmeathColáiste Abbain WexfordCreagh College WexfordEnniscorthy Youth reach WexfordF.C.J. Secondary School WexfordGood Counsel College WexfordSt. Mary's C.B.S. WexfordSt. Mary's Secondary WexfordVocational College Bunclody WexfordColáiste Raithín WicklowEast Glendalough School WicklowGaelcholáiste na Mara WicklowSt Brigids NS Wicklow

Recommendations

1. The Irish Life Health Schools’ Fitness Challenge demonstrates that exercise intervention at a young age can improve fitness among school-going children and that fitness levels could be continually assessed to improve the overall health of the nation.

2. Ideally Irish girls should be completing a minimum of 70 shuttle runs in the bleep test.

3. Ideally Irish boys should be completing a minimum of 100 shuttle runs in the bleep test.

4. Low Cardiorespiratory fitness in childhood and youth is a predictor of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases later in life. Since the levels of Cardiorespiratory fitness tend to track from childhood to adolescence and from adolescence to adulthood every effort should be made to promote high levels of Cardiorespiratory fitness in early in life.

5. Continuous surveillance of Cardiorespiratory fitness in children and youth should be mandatory in primary and secondary schools.

6. There is nothing more important to an individual that their health. On the basis that schools provide universal access over a sustained period to children and youth, there is a urgent need for a new stand-alone health science curriculum in both primary and secondary school.

Participating schools





Prof. Nial Moyna


School County School County School County












School County School County School County





C181-2-0118




irish life health schools’ fitness challenge · 2016 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 average 2013...

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