Crawley schools get £4,000 boost to help children get more active

Two primary schools in Crawley have received funding for playground improvements aimed at encouraging children to be more active during the school day.

West Sussex County Council has worked with the London Marathon Foundation and Active Sussex to secure £4,000 through the Active Playgrounds initiative for Southgate Primary School and Broadfield Primary School.

Each school has received £2,000 to install colourful playground markings designed to encourage more active play.

The schools were selected using local insight, including where additional support could help create more opportunities for children to get active.

The wider partnership is also encouraging schools across West Sussex to sign up to The Daily Mile, a free initiative which sees pupils run, wheel or walk together for 15 minutes during the school day.

Schools were also encouraged to take part in the 2026 TCS Mini London Marathon in Schools, which gives pupils the opportunity to run, wheel or walk two miles within their own school grounds.

The challenge can be completed in one go or spread across several days.

A total of 80 schools across West Sussex took part, with Crawley recording the highest participation of any area across Sussex.

Thirteen schools in the borough joined the initiative.

Southgate Primary School’s Assistant Headteacher, Gary Smallman, also took part in this year’s TCS London Marathon.

West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Ian Davey, said:

“Helping children to be active every day is one of the simplest and most effective ways we can support their physical health, mental wellbeing and readiness to learn.

“We're delighted to be working with the London Marathon Foundation, Active Sussex and schools across the county to support this programme. The investment in Southgate Primary School and Broadfield Primary School demonstrates how targeted support can help create more opportunities for children to be active, particularly in areas where it can make the greatest difference.”

Gary Smallman, Assistant Headteacher at Southgate Primary School, said:

“Keeping children active is vital for their health, wellbeing and learning, and the new playground markings have made a real difference. They have encouraged more pupils to get moving, be creative in their play and enjoy being active together throughout the school day. It's fantastic to see children making the most of the new spaces and developing healthy habits that we hope will stay with them for years to come.”

Frances White, Children and Young People Engagement Lead for London and the Southeast at the London Marathon Foundation, said:

“Our vision is to inspire activity, and our work with West Sussex County Council and Active Sussex is helping to make that a reality for more children across the county.

“Whether through the two new Active Playgrounds in Crawley, the West Sussex schools that took part in the 2026 TCS Mini London Marathon in Schools or The Daily Mile, it has been fantastic to see children embracing simple, fun ways to build more movement into their everyday lives.”

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