The main objective of the PAHLESS project was to bring together 4 European secondary schools (SecSs) from 4 European countries in a small-scale partnership for the exchange of good practice in the four HEPAS (Healthy and physically active schools in Europe) dimensions (PE: Physical Education, PA: Physical Activity, SS: School Sport and HL: Healthy Lifestyle) under the lead of EUPEA (European Physical Education Association), with the aim: - To map the current situation with regard to best practice related to physically active and healthy SecSs in alignment with the HEPAS framework in participating SecSs; - To exchange amongst partner schools about their initiatives and best practice related to PE, PA, SS and HL; - To support the participating SecSs when applying to the MSA (Moving Schools Award); - To strengthen the relevant professional competencies of the involved participants; - To facilitate the development of an international network of physically active and healthy SecSs.
EUPEA as the project coordinator has as a main slogan “No Education without Physical Education”. Thus, all activities including those in European projects turn around this main idea of education that always has a physical component. This includes not only the school subject Physical Education (PE), but also any physical activities during a school day, as well as a healthy lifestyle in general. The main motivation for this project was that participating teachers and other school staff members learn from each other, with the most important aim to make their schools even more physically active and healthy for the most important target group: their students. Finally, as the settings and needs of secondary schools and their students (aged 10-19 depending on the European countries) and teachers (usually specialists) are different to those of primary schools and their students (aged 3-12 depending on the European countries) and teachers (either generalist teachers teaching all subjects or specialist teachers), this project was focusing on secondary schools, while a different, complimentary project proposal was implemented with primary schools.