With growing concerns around childhood inactivity, schools are under more pressure than ever to track, support and improve student movement throughout the day. But how can you accurately measure physical activity in schools without adding more work for teachers?
In this post, we explore the best ways to monitor movement, why it matters, and how the right tools make it easier than you think.
Why Measure Physical Activity in Schools?
Measuring activity gives schools real data they can use to:
- Understand how active students really are (vs. how active they feel)
- Track the impact of new initiatives like The Daily Mile or active breaks
- Identify trends or gaps across classes or year groups
- Provide evidence to support PE and sport funding
- Encourage friendly competition and boost motivation
The goal isn’t just to get numbers — it’s to create a culture where movement is valued, visible, and part of everyday school life.
What Should You Track?
The two most common ways to measure physical activity in schools are:
1. Time spent active
This tracks the minutes students are moving, often using accelerometer-based devices.
2. Steps taken
A step count is a simple, universal metric that’s easy to understand and compare.
While both are useful, steps offer a more accessible way to engage students and staff — and are highly effective when combined with group challenges or school-wide goals.
Tools for Measuring Physical Activity in Schools
You’ve got a few options, depending on your resources and goals:
✏️ Manual Observation
- Teachers record activity levels during PE or break times.
- ✅ Low cost
- ❌ Time-consuming, subjective, hard to scale
📱 Mobile Apps & Pedometers
- Students use consumer-grade step trackers or phone apps.
- ✅ Easy to start
- ❌ Inconsistent data, privacy issues, not classroom-friendly
🧠 Moki Bands – Built for Schools
Moki offers a unique solution: wearable activity trackers designed specifically for primary and secondary schools.
Each student wears a wristband that tracks steps and active minutes — no screens, no distractions, no charging required.
All data syncs in seconds via the Moki Reader and is instantly available in your school’s dashboard. You can:
- View average daily steps by class, year or pupil
- Track performance over time
- Run competitions or team challenges
- Celebrate success and encourage more movement
Best of all, Moki doesn’t track location or store personal data, making it a safe, school-friendly option.
“Moki makes it easy to show the impact of our PE programme with real data — and the kids love it!”
– PE Lead, Primary School in Kent
Start Measuring Today
Understanding how much students move is the first step to helping them move more.
Whether you're applying for PE Premium funding, running an active travel week, or just want to build a more active school, measuring physical activity is key — and Moki makes it simple.