Teacher experiences implementing the ‘Active School Flag’ initiative to support physically active school communities in Ireland

Abstract

In order for initiatives targeting physical activity in the school community to be effectively implemented, they need to ‘make sense’ from the school’s perspective. That is, teachers need to see their value and feel confident that implementation will result in change. Teachers also need to feel competent in doing what’s required of them to implement an initiative as intended. This study takes a mixed methods research approach (questionnaire and focus groups) to understand motivations, perceived benefits and challenges associated with implementing the ‘Active School Flag’ (ASF) initiative. Active School Flag ‘coordinators’ from Irish primary schools completed questionnaires (n = 236) and participated in focus groups (n = 19). Data were analysed using descriptive and Thematic Analysis (TA). Findings suggest that schools are both intrinsically motivated (e.g. ‘to improve the health of the children’) and extrinsically motivated (by recognition and status) to implement the ASF initiative. Results also reveal a litany of perceived benefits attributed to ASF implementation (including ‘less active children become more active’). Conversely, results indicate that implementation comes with challenges relating to ‘time’ and ‘paperwork’. Findings of this study have the potential to be used as inputs to improve the ASF implementation process and inform similar future programmes.

Keywords:

• physical education
• physical activity
• intervention
• co-curricular
• health promotion‌

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Healthy Ireland Fund (HIF), Irish Department of Health.

Notes on contributors

Jamie McGann

Dr. Jamie McGann is a Research Fellow and Primary Educator at the School of Health and Human Performance, DCU.

Sarah Meegan

Dr. Sarah Meegan is a Lecturer in Physical Education at the School of Health and Human Performance, DCU.

Catherine Woods

Prof. Catherine Woods is Chair of Physical Activity for Health in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at the University of Limerick.

Elaine Murtagh

Dr. Elaine Murtagh is a Senior Lecturer in Physical Education in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick.

Christina Duff

Ms. Christina Duff is a Research Assistant in the area of Health Promotions at the School of Health and Human Performance, DCU.

Sarahjane Belton

Dr. Sarahjane Belton is an Associate Professor of Physical Education and Head of School of Health and Human Performance at DCU.