North-east schools take on active challenge
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Secondary schools in the north-east took part in a challenge which encouraged pupils to get active during lockdown.
It saw students and some staff across the region put in the miles by getting out and exercising by either walking, running and cycling.
Inverurie was the winning school with 3589 miles, followed by Alford in second with 3057 miles and third place went to Westhill with 2383 miles.
PE teacher at Inverurie Academy Ryan Ramsay said: "The challenge was open to all pupils and staff to do as many miles as they could walking, running or cycling.
"It took place from the Monday morning to the following Sunday night.
"The pupils said they found it a really good mental break from their school work at home.
"It worked so well to get people out and about and everybody was delighted to win the challenge.
"It was also good to communicate with other schools in the area and was something for everyone to focus on.
"Our students and staff said it helped their mental health and encouraged a lot of people to get involved and active."
The other schools that took part in the challenge were Aboyne, Banff, Fraserburgh, Kemnay, Mackie, Peterhead and Turriff.
Principal teacher of PE and health at Alford Academy Euan Lawson said the challenge was a good way to engage the pupils during lockdown.
He added: "It was about keeping everybody active and focused on their cardiorespiratory endurance and fitness levels.
"From our point of view trying to engage the pupils in remote learning has been a challenge, not just for us but every subject.
"It was a no-brainer to get involved with it. The main focus was not about the competition, but that little competitive element really allowed the pupils, and the staff as well, to get into it.
"It gave people that extra motivation when it is dark nights and got people moving.
"The engagement was great from our school and there was a wide range of pupils from all year groups that took part.
"It was something different because a lot of our work for the pupils during this lockdown has had to be in the house because of the weather.
"Getting them to do exercise that was encouraging them to go outside when they could was great."
