Minister for Education Helen McEntee TD has today announced details on the second year of the Physical Activity in Teaching and Learning Pilot Programme and invited schools across the country to apply to take part.
Schools can apply for up to €10,000 out of a total €300,000 made available in funding through the programme to support them in integrating physical activity into their teaching and learning. This is in addition to the physical activity experienced by learners during designated physical education lessons.
Primary, special and post-primary schools who have not previously participated in this pilot and who would like to take part in the second year of the pilot programme have until 27 May to apply. Projects undertaken by the selected schools, will be used to inform policy developments in this space.
There are currently 24 schools taking part in the first year of the programme.
Minister McEntee said:
“Exercise is so important for everyone, particularly for young people in our schools. Increased physical activity leads to better motor skills, cognitive functions and positive habits in our young people. Fundamentally, I want to see more opportunities for movement throughout the school day.
“This pilot programme is a great opportunity for schools to be innovative and creative and to integrate physical activity into teaching and learning.
“Fostering the habit of exercise and an understanding of its benefits among children and young people makes it more likely that they will continue to have an active lifestyle as they get older, alongside all the benefits to their health and wellbeing.
“I would encourage all schools to apply for funding through this pilot programme and create positive opportunities for learning through physical activity.”
Further details in relation to the Pilot Programme are available on the Department of Education website.
Guidelines for applications are available here.
Please find link to application form here.
Application Process
Schools must apply using the online Physical Activity in Teaching and Learning – Pilot Programme 2025 Application Form.
As part of the application process, the following should be taken into consideration:
- School leaders should inform the school community about the pilot programme and provide opportunities to brainstorm ideas
- Parents should be informed and may be invited to submit ideas. Learners should play a central role in developing and implementing the project.
- School leaders and teachers must identify the curricular or cross-curricular subject(s) and the physical activity
- School leaders and teachers should identify the resources they require to facilitate the project, outline how much funding they require and how it will be spent
- Participating teachers plan collaboratively to create the project unit of learning, to include clear intended learning, learning experiences, assessment tasks and reporting/feedback mechanisms on learning
- School leaders will need to appoint a teacher as a dedicated project lead to manage and oversee the pilot programme within their school
- School leaders must determine which class group or groups will participate in the pilot programme
- School participating in the Active School Flag Programme are also encouraged to apply
- All applications must be submitted online
Selection criteria for consideration
The Department of Education will establish a panel to evaluate applications.
The following applications will be considered:
- Only applications received before the agreed deadline for submission
- Only online applications will be accepted
- Only applications which adhere to the word count in the application form will be evaluated. Details of the word count are outlined below.
- Applications will be considered from any recognised primary, post-primary or special school within the free education scheme. Schools outside the Free Education Scheme are not eligible to apply.
Schools participating in year 1 of the Physical Activity in Teaching and Learning – Pilot Programme are not eligible to apply.
Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
- How the project will support the school in integrating physical activity in teaching and learning in the chosen curricular or cross-curricular area, 300 words (20 marks)
- The benefits the school hopes to gain from participation in the Pilot Programme and how senior leaders in the school will support the project, 150 words (10 marks)
- How the teachers and school leaders will ensure that learners will play a central role in developing and implementing the project, 150 words (10 marks)
- The extent to which the project will sustain a long term cultural change in physical activity in teaching and learning in the school, 150 words (10 marks)
The selection process will also be informed by:
- Geographic national spread
- Urban/rural locations
- Innovation and creativity
- Range of physical activities proposed as part of the application process
- Range of school types (e.g. primary/post-primary, urban/rural, large/small, DEIS/non-DEIS, special/mainstream schools, single sex/co-ed, patron body, etc.)
- Inclusion and diversity
- Impact on learning and physical activity levels