Basildon Active Schools
Supporting Basildon Schools to Get Every Child Active
Launched in May 2025, the Basildon Active Schools Project is building a sustainable, joined up approach to physical activity across schools, with the ambition of enabling every child to achieve 60 active minutes a day.
The Basildon Active Schools Project supports schools to embed physical activity across the school day, from PE and movement breaks to active travel and out‑of‑school sport. To date, 26 of 38 schools (68%) have completed a Basildon-wide survey, providing a clear picture of current provision, strengths and gaps.
On 3 December 2025, 25 Basildon schools (66%) attended the inaugural Basildon Active Schools Conference, bringing together Headteachers, Heads of Department and PE teachers. The event provided valuable networking opportunities alongside presentations from Deanes SSP, Active Essex, Everyone Active, Basildon Council and the Active Travel team. Feedback from schools was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees highlighting the value of shared learning and collaboration. The conference marked an important first step in establishing a connected Basildon schools network.
Key learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Strong external engagement
Schools showed strong engagement in external sport
Funding constraints
Funding constraints limit schools’ ability to sustain provision.
Staff capacity and training
Gaps in staff training affect schools’ ability to prioritise and deliver physical activity.
Whole‑school prioritisation
Competing pressures limit whole‑school commitment to physical activity.
Targeted support through Action Plans
Tailored Action Plans provided guidance, funding signposting and resources.
With Active Essex’s strategic support and Deanes SSP providing local coordination, the project is beginning to build a lasting and sustainable infrastructure for physical activity, PE and school sport driving collaboration, enabling area‑wide support and positioning Basildon schools to benefit from future investment and opportunity, as seen in neighbouring areas.
Active Essex's Role
Active Essex has played a key strategic role in supporting the Basildon Active Schools Project, recognising it as a priority area for improving outcomes for children and young people. By helping to integrate physical activity more deeply into the education system and facilitating collaboration with partners, Active Essex has supported the development of a more connected, system wide approach. Crucially, Active Essex supported the involvement of Deanes School Sport Partnership, bringing proven expertise and evidence that a coordinated infrastructure can deliver sustained benefits for schools and pupils over time.
While strong progress has been made in creating community‑based opportunities for children and young people, the project has highlighted the need for greater capacity and support within the education system. Schools face competing priorities, limited time, funding pressures and challenges engaging with wider initiatives all of which can limit reach and impact.
The Basildon Active Schools Project directly addresses these barriers by offering coordination, shared learning, leadership and a clear network enabling schools to access support more easily and consistently.
In 2026, the project will focus on achieving full school engagement through a 100% survey response rate, continuing to support schools with tailored Action Plans and signposting to relevant funding and resources. The SSP will build on this by delivering networking events and targeted CPD for teachers, informed by survey findings and conference feedback. The Basildon schools network will continue to grow, strengthening connections between schools, local organisations and the local authority, with the Basildon Active Schools Conference becoming an annual event and plans to explore the creation of an SSP Basildon Youth Board to ensure young people’s voices are heard.
