#BeActive at School

From 23 to 30 September, the European Week of Sport gets people moving across Europe, with schools across the continent joining in too.

Physical activity is not just for PE lessons. It can be part of the entire school day, from active breaks and lessons to the journey to school or special activity days. Every year, the European School Sport Day (ESSD) shows what this can look like, bringing schools across Europe together to get active and #BeActive. Last year, 3.7 million pupils in 40 countries took part. In Germany, the European School Sport Day is an integral part of the European Week of Sport and is coordinated nationwide by the German Physical Education Teachers’ Association (DSLV). As National Coordinator of the European Week of Sport in Germany since 2016, the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) supports the different initiatives within #BeActive and helps showcase the many opportunities to get involved.

Primary schools get #BeActive

One way for primary schools to get involved is through the German School Sport Foundation (DSSS), which is once again taking part in the European School Sport Day in 2026 with a dedicated activity as part of the “Jugend trainiert” primary school competition. Primary schools can take part in whatever way works best for them, whether with one class, an entire year group, the whole school or together with other primary schools. And because getting active does not have to be limited to just one day, the activity can take place at any time during the European Week of Sport from 23 to 30 September.

Make your school #BeActive

Whether it is the “Jugend trainiert” primary school competition, an active break, an active journey to school, a school activity day or an idea of your own, there are plenty of ways to bring more physical activity into the school day. The European Week of Sport brings all these ideas together, with schools across Europe getting active and sending a shared message for more movement. Make your school part of it!