School Games National Santa Dash Press Release Templates
Ahead of the 2025 National Santa Dash, we have templates for SGOs and schools to celebrate and share their involvement with local media. Let's make this year's Santa Dash the biggest ever!
Below are two press release templates for this year’s School Games National Santa Dash:
- one for individual schools
- one for county-wide participation
Both templates include highlighted sections for you or schools to update with local details, School Games Mark achievements, and a quote. If preferred, you can use the quote from Ali Watt included in the national Youth Sport Trust release (see below) as the SGO quote.
We encourage you to update and share either of these with local media ahead of/on Friday, or (where appropriate) pass these templates on to your schools taking part and encourage them to share their story.
These releases offer a strong opportunity to highlight the positive steps schools and the Schools Games Network are taking to promote physical activity within their communities.
Alternative to SGO quote
The School Games National Santa Dash initiative was started by School Games Organiser, Ali Watt, who said, “Taking part in the Santa Dash gives pupils a great opportunity to join a shared event on the same day, helping create a strong sense of belonging and shared memories across schools. The event supports key School Games Mark criteria by increasing participation, providing positive experiences that inspire a lifelong love of being active, and celebrating each school’s commitment to physical activity. It also helps develop valuable life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and community spirit, showcasing the power of physical activity and school sport to bring young people together.”
School-Specific Press Release
[LOCATION] School to Join National Santa Dash to Help Mo’s Mission Reach 30 Million Active Minutes
Schools across the country invited to join festive Santa Dash to celebrate School Games Mark achievement and support Sir Mo Farah’s mission to get children moving.
[SCHOOL NAME] in [LOCATION] is preparing to take part in the national School Games National Santa Dash on Friday 12th December, a festive celebration of movement designed to bring pupils together in a fun, inclusive event. Children, school staff, and families are encouraged to wear Santa hats or fancy dress and get active in any way they can.
Last year, more than 116,000 young people across the country joined the Santa Dash and this year, schools are also being encouraged to join in once again and contribute their pledged minutes in a final push to 30 million active minutes for Mo’s Mission. This national campaign is led by the Youth Sport Trust and their National School Sport’s Champion, Sir Mo Farah, with the goal of getting schools, families and organisations across the country to pledge 30 million active minutes across a school week before the end of the year.
Mo’s Mission aims to raise awareness of the recommended activity levels for children - 60 minutes a day (or 20 minutes for young people with SEND) - the wide-ranging benefits of being active and encourages simple ways for children to move more with 60 second challenges, activity trackers, and more.
Find out more and pledge minutes here.
Throughout the year, schools have embraced Mo’s Mission in creative ways, as well as demonstrated great commitment to improving children's access to, enjoyment of and enjoyment of sport and PE. The results of this are reflected in the latest School Games Mark awards, with 9,426 schools receiving either a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Schools Games Mark as recognition for their school’s commitment to developing competitive sport within their school and community. [SCHOOL NAME] has received a [BRONZE / SILVER / GOLD / PLATINUM] mark, recognising their work to broaden and improve access to school sport and physical activity.
[LOCATION] School Games Organiser, [NAME], said, “[INSERT QUOTE ON POSITIVE STEPS SCHOOL HAS MADE / WHY THEY HAVE BEEN AWARDED MARK]. The whole school community is also excited to round off a successful year with a fun and active celebration at the School Games Santa Dash.”
The School Games Mark is a government-led award scheme and allows schools to assess their PE provision and create an action plan for improvement. The scheme works to shape meaningful PE and sport offerings for young people, with a particular focus on youth voice, physical literacy, keeping children active, and tackling inequalities. By joining the School Games, teachers and schools gain access to a range of exclusive resources, including tools, videos, case studies, and guides to help organise and run events. Schools not involved can find out more information and register here.
Together, the Santa Run, Mo’s Mission and the School Games Mark success form key cornerstones of the Youth Sport Trust’s ambition to ensure every child enjoys and benefits from meaningful, accessible opportunities to be active.
Ali Oliver MBE, CEO of the Youth Sport Trust, said, “This year’s School Games Mark figures, alongside the remarkable annual engagement in the Santa Dash, show real momentum behind PE and sport in schools. More schools are recognising the benefits of physical activity for cognitive development, wellbeing and inclusion and these efforts show commitment from schools to put movement at the heart of the day. By joining the Santa Dash and pledging minutes to Mo’s Mission, schools can help us reach 30 million active minutes and shine a light on how important movement is for children’s health, learning and happiness. We hope as many schools as possible will join in and help us reach our goal before the end of the year.”
About the Youth Sport Trust
The Youth Sport Trust is the leading UK children’s charity for improving young people's health and wellbeing through sport and play. We empower young people and equip educators to build brighter futures through the power of physical activity. Founded in 1995, we work with around 20,000 schools and provides opportunities for over two million children every year. Our vision is to create a future where every child enjoys the life-changing benefits of play and sport. For media enquiries please contact [email protected].
About School Games
The School Games is a programme which puts physical activity and school sport at the heart of schools and provides young people with the opportunity to enjoy and learn through competition to achieve their personal best.
Countywide Press Release
[COUNTY] Schools to Join National Santa Dash to Help Mo’s Mission Reach 30 Million Active Minutes
Schools across the country invited to join festive Santa Dash to celebrate School Games Mark achievement and support Sir Mo Farah’s mission to get children moving.
Schools across [COUNTY] are preparing to take part in the national School Games National Santa Dash on Friday 12th December, a festive celebration of movement designed to bring pupils together in a fun, inclusive event. With over [X NUMBER] schools in [COUNTY] planning to get involved, children, school staff, and families are encouraged to wear Santa hats or fancy dress and get active in any way they can.
Last year, more than 116,000 young people across the country joined the Santa Dash and this year, schools are also being encouraged to join in once again and contribute their pledged minutes in a final push to 30 million active minutes for Mo’s Mission. This national campaign is led by the Youth Sport Trust and their National School Sport’s Champion, Sir Mo Farah, with the goal of getting schools, families and organisations across the country to pledge 30 million active minutes across a school week before the end of the year.
Mo’s Mission aims to raise awareness of the recommended activity levels for children - 60 minutes a day (or 20 minutes for young people with SEND) - the wide-ranging benefits of being active and encourages simple ways for children to move more with 60 second challenges, activity trackers, and more.
Find out more and pledge minutes here.
Throughout the year, schools have embraced Mo’s Mission in creative ways, as well as demonstrated great commitment to improving children's access to, enjoyment of and enjoyment of sport and PE. The results of this are reflected in the latest School Games Mark awards, with 9,426 schools receiving either a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum Schools Games Mark as recognition for their school’s commitment to developing competitive sport within their school and community. In [COUNTY], an impressive [X NUMBER] schools have received a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum mark, recognising their work to broaden and improve access to school sport and physical activity.
[LOCATION] School Games Organiser, [NAME], said, “[INSERT QUOTE ON POSITIVE STEPS SCHOOLS HAVE MADE RELATING TO MARKS]. We are also excited to see school communities across the county round off a successful year with a fun and active celebration at the School Games Santa Dash.”
The School Games Mark is a government-led award scheme and allows schools to assess their PE provision and create an action plan for improvement. The scheme works to shape meaningful PE and sport offerings for young people, with a particular focus on youth voice, physical literacy, keeping children active, and tackling inequalities. By joining the School Games, teachers and schools gain access to a range of exclusive resources, including tools, videos, case studies, and guides to help organise and run events. Schools not involved can find out more information and register here.
Together, the Santa Run, Mo’s Mission and the School Games Mark success form key cornerstones of the Youth Sport Trust’s ambition to ensure every child enjoys and benefits from meaningful, accessible opportunities to be active.
Ali Oliver MBE, CEO of the Youth Sport Trust, said, “This year’s School Games Mark figures, alongside the remarkable annual engagement in the Santa Dash, show real momentum behind PE and sport in schools. More schools are recognising the benefits of physical activity for cognitive development, wellbeing and inclusion and these efforts show commitment from schools to put movement at the heart of the day. By joining the Santa Dash and pledging minutes to Mo’s Mission, schools can help us reach 30 million active minutes and shine a light on how important movement is for children’s health, learning and happiness. We hope as many schools as possible will join in and help us reach our goal before the end of the year.”
About the Youth Sport Trust
The Youth Sport Trust is the leading UK children’s charity for improving young people's health and wellbeing through sport and play. We empower young people and equip educators to build brighter futures through the power of physical activity. Founded in 1995, we work with around 20,000 schools and provides opportunities for over two million children every year. Our vision is to create a future where every child enjoys the life-changing benefits of play and sport. For media enquiries please contact [email protected].
About School Games
The School Games is a programme which puts physical activity and school sport at the heart of schools and provides young people with the opportunity to enjoy and learn through competition to achieve their personal best.