STUDENTS at a Teignbridge school have taken up the baton of boosting their physical activity.

A weekly running club at Teign School in Kingsteignton, launched to explicitly target students who were not engaged in sport, has blossomed.

Despite an already diverse extracurricular offer at the school, staff knew a group of students remained disengaged from physical activity.

In response, they launched the weekly running club to target student wellbeing and promote self-care through movement.

What began as a small initiative has now become a thriving, year-round programme, featuring both onsite and offsite sessions, designed to be both fun and functional.

Teign School has partnered with Active Devon as part of the Devon RISE Up programme and the school has designed its own bespoke approach to boosting movement, inspired by Sport England’s Patchwork Physical Literacy initiative.

Running club activities include team relays with upbeat music for motivation, tag-style running games and bodyweight strength challenges.

Offsite sessions involve minibus transport to local trails, cycle paths, and nature reserves.

These sessions offer a more adventurous experience and pace groups ensure accessibility for all ability levels.

A school spokesman said: ‘The running club has evolved into a supportive wellbeing community, providing a safe and inclusive space for students to connect and open up and opportunities to challenge physical and mental boundaries.

‘The club also integrates accessible self-care strategies such as deep breathing practices, gratitude journaling and nutrition education.

‘Its success is bolstered by enthusiastic staff participation.’

Teachers from the PE department and beyond have regularly supported sessions and encouraged participation from students who might not traditionally engage with PE.

Their presence reinforced the message that movement and wellbeing are for everyone and has helped normalise participation across the wider school.

Lucie Wagner, Head of School at Teign School, said: ‘Our Running Club has grown into much more than an after-school activity, it’s a community where students feel safe, supported, and excited to take part in physical activity while developing lifelong wellbeing skills.’