Harlington School Sports Partnership has become the latest in a long line of School Sports Partnerships to benefit from Dance Machine from Pulse.

The 8 player dance mat system was purchased by the partnership in January after consulting with students about the type of activity that they would participate in.  The specific target age group was Key Stage 4 (14-16 year olds) who, from previous surveys completed, were identified as having the lowest participation figures in physical activity clubs.

Adam Spinks, Partnership Development Manager comments, “The hi-tech nature of the Dance Machine system appeals to young people. For senior girls it provides an opportunity to exercise in an indoor controlled competitive environment to current music where often they beat the boys. For boys who are not usually engaged in competitive invasion games such rugby and football, it provides them with an opportunity to experience competition with exercise.”

There are five sites within Harlington School Sports Partnership and each school gets the Dance Machine system for half a term.  Through all of the schools it has raised weekly participation in a structured physical activity for students and even some teachers.  Students like the fact it is very visual and the competitive element with instant results available on screen also encourages healthy competition. 

“We are delighted with the system,” comments Spinks.  “Schools, students and teachers had heard about the system and were asking where they could access it. We knew purchasing a system would be a high impact project helping us towards meeting the targets we had been set for increasing weekly participation.”

13th July 2009