Schoolchildren doing more exercise in Wales - survey

Teenagers in Wales are exercising more, but are also experiencing increased bullying at school, a national survey has found.

Nearly a quarter of boys (23%) are doing at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day – the national guideline - up from 21% in 2019 and 2021, according to the Schools Health Research Network (SHRN) health and wellbeing survey.

It found that 14% of girls meet the exercising guidelines, up from 12% in 2021.

However, almost 37% of young people said they had been bullied, up from 32% in 2021.

Nearly 130,000 pupils at 200 secondary schools across Wales took part in the survey, which asked questions on topics including mental health, alcohol and screen time.

Lorna Bennett, consultant in health improvement for Public Health Wales (PHW), called the increase in physical activity "really encouraging" but said more needed to be done.

"The number of young people meeting the guidelines for physical activity remains low and it is important that we continue working to ensure that physical activity becomes part of the lives of more young people in Wales," she said.

The report will be used by PHW, the Welsh government and bodies including Sport Wales to develop new policies.

Students exercising outside of school has also increased but there is a significant difference between poorer and affluent families.

Almost half (45%) of children from more well-off families exercised vigorously outside of school four times a week, compared to 32% of children from poorer families.

Willows High School in Cardiff used the data from the survey to develop new ways of increasing physical activity, including an "enrichment programme".

Jane Crawshaw, leader of enrichment at the school, said it offered activities including rock climbing and bouldering, swimming, self-defence, cycling, cricket, football and boxing.

"It improves their attendance because they love doing these activities, and we get to see them smiling and happy and achieving something that they might not have ordinarily done," she added.

Pupils said the programme had brought them a number of benefits.

“I don’t do much sport outside of school but this is better because you learn so much and it’s made me consider trying other sports like football, climbing, and boxing,” said Husnaia, 12.

Jayden, 12, said he played football at the weekend but he also enjoyed the opportunity to do activities at school.

Ameeia, 15, said: "I don’t get a chance to do this outside of school, because it costs a lot, so it’s a privilege."

The survey also found teenagers were experiencing more bullying at school than any previous survey in the past decade - 37%, up from 32% in 2021.

"It is alarming," said Ms Bennett, adding that "a significant group of young people are having to deal with being bullied, which impacts mental health".

To try and tackle the issue, PHW is working with schools to roll out a programme designed to help schools support student’s mental health, as well as preventing and tackling bullying.