STUDENTS at a primary school were given a lesson in the importance of exercise and wellbeing by an Olympic sailor.
The elite sportswoman, Alison Young, spoke to students at Atlantic Academy Primary on Portland during Healthy Living Week and encouraged pupils to take part in daily fitness challenges, including a winter daily mile walk.
For the campaign students also ditched crisps in favour of lunch box fruit and vegetable snacks to celebrate the health-focussed week.
Ms Young spoke to the children about the importance of physical activity and her life as an athlete.
Melissa Heppell, Atlantic Academy Primary’s principal, said she was proud of the school’s Healthy School status which was awarded by the Department for Education.
She said: “For us it’s important to be a healthy school because it helps students to learn the importance of looking after their physical and mental wellbeing.
“It means we are always thinking about what to do to support our children in school so that they develop good habits which will equip them to carry on making good choices to keep fit and healthy as they progress through life.
“At Atlantic we promote physical activity and wellbeing through our curriculum every single day and our students love using the raft of play resources available and also our enviable play area. Our school has a unique location on Portland and this develops a real love of the outdoors.
“Alison Young is an Olympic sailor and has competed in four Olympic regattas. She spoke to the children with great passion about what she does and it was important the children are reminded of Portland’s 2012 Olympic sailing legacy. We are delighted and thankful Alison took the time to come in.”
The healthy school rating scheme is a voluntary initiative, launched by the Department for Education, that recognises and encourages their contribution to supporting pupils’ health and wellbeing.
Alison Young is a British sailor. She competed in the Laser Radial class event at the 2012 Summer Olympics where she placed 5th. At the 2016 Laser World Championships, she won gold in the laser radial class and in doing so became the first British woman to become world champion in a solo Olympic dinghy class. Her best World Championship performance before this was 4th in 2012.