Our Results
A formal evaluation of the impact of Project Spraoi was carried out at the end of the academic school year (2015). Results show that Project Spraoi is having a positive impact on the health of Irish primary school children.
Project Spraoi children were compared to children of the same age who did not receive the programme but were tested at the start and end of the school year (control). A total of 658 children from 10 schools participated in the evaluation.
Table 1: Key results from Year 1 evaluation of Project Spraoi
Measured variable
Result
Overweight and obesity
Project Spraoi Schools level of overweight and obesity decreased (-1.6%)
Control Schools levels of overweight and obesity increased (+3.8%).
Physical Activity
Project Spraoi Schools daily moderate and vigorous activity increased (+13.3 mins per day).
Control Schools daily moderate and vigorous activity also increased (+8.2mins per day).
A greater increase in moderate and vigorous activity was found among children in Project Spraoi schools compared to control schools.
Sedentary Behaviour
Project Spraoi Schools levels of sedentary behaviour decreased (-16.3 mins per day)
Control Schools sedentary behaviour decreased (-10.9 mins per day).
A greater decrease was found in sedentary behaviour was found among children in Project Spraoi schools compared to control schools
Nutritional Knowledge
97% of Project Spraoi children agreed water was healthy or very healthy.
88% of Control School children agreed water was healthy or very healthy.
