The Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) has published a guide for teachers as a result of its Energy Project, which aimed to look girls’ use of energy while in school.

The project began at the end of 2004, when the Helen Storey Foundation approached WSFF about working on a project that focused on the physical activity of girls. By 2006, the project had gained support and funding from Creative Partnerships London South and East and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Sheffield Hallam University was commissioned to develop the methodology to measure girls’ activity levels throughout the school day. For a week in the summer term of 2006, 45 girls and 15 teachers from three schools in south London wore accelerometers during the day and were asked questions to find out when they felt the most energised and the least energised.

The next week, new measures were introduced – including a breakfast club, cheerleading in registration and yoga at the beginning of class – in an effort to boost the girls’ activity.

The three schools gave their feedback and the WSFF created the guide, which is available at www.wsff.org.uk