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NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS) 2010 (Australia)

The NSW Government released the results of the NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey in November 2011. More than 8000 school students from over 100 schools were measured for height, weight, eating habits, physical activity, fundamental movement skills and cardio-respiratory fitness in early 2010. The survey found that 52 per cent of boys achieve recommended levels of activity, compared with 41 per cent of girls. The highest prevalence of active travel was among Year 6 students. 

The morning and afternoon school travel patterns of students in Years K and 2 were relatively consistent with over half being driven both to and from school. Approximately one-fifth used active travel (ie walk, cycle, scooter, or skateboard) or a mixed mode (ie mix of passive and active travel) and less than 10% used public transport to travel to and from school.

By Year 4, school travel patterns appeared to shift: being driven was still the most prevalent travel mode to school (and with approximately 10% using public transport). However, for the home journey, there was a small decline in car trips and a small increase in the proportion of students using public transport for this trip.

The highest prevalence of active travel was among Year 6 students, with slightly more boys reporting this mode than girls. Approximately 17% and 24% of girls and boys, respectively, used active travel to travel to school with these proportions increasing to 22% and 29% for the trip home from school. The increase in active travel coincided with a slight decrease in the prevalence of being driven or using mixed modes between the morning and afternoon journeys.

The school travel patterns of secondary school students were different to those of primary school students. Mixed modes of travel were dominant among Year 8 and 10 students (45– 50%) and this was consistent for trips to and from school. The most striking difference between the morning and afternoon school trip among secondary school students was a 50% reduction in car trips; approximately 20% were driven to school and 10% driven home from school. Coinciding with the reduced prevalence of being driven home from school were small increases (2–6%) in the proportion of students
using active and public transport to travel home.

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