Relive the PACTE+ Active Schools Conference!

Physical activity isn’t just for gym class—it’s a key to better health and enhanced learning. This was the focus of the recent “Active School: The Foundation for a Life-Long Physically Active Lifestyle” conference, hosted by Fredrikstad Municipality as part of the ERASMUS project PACTE+. Educators from across Europe joined the event, with Professor Per Morten Fredriksen offering fresh insights on integrating physical activity into the school day. He emphasized the importance of making movement a natural part of children’s routines. Read the complete interview here...

“It’s essential that [children] experience the joy of being active. It should be fun and educational at the same time,” he said, warning that inactivity often robs children of this joy. Active learning—such as vocabulary tests in the woods or math relays in the schoolyard—combines physical activity with academics. Fredriksen noted that movement doesn’t just enhance health but also improves focus and academic performance.

The conference highlighted that creating active schools begins with simple steps—encouraging walking to school, incorporating movement into lessons, and fostering active play. The result? Healthier, happier, and more engaged students.

This conference was hosted by the Fredrikstad Municipality and organized as part of the PACTE+ project, which aims to promote physical activity across Europe. By bringing educators and experts together in events and conferences like this can help develop innovative strategies that can be adopted not just locally but across participating countries, fostering a culture of health and learning for the next generation.