Girls Active Programme - Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership

Findings
4.1 Questionnaire
A total of 198 girls who participated on Girls
Active during the school year of 2004-5 returned
completed questionnaires. These came from 18
out of the 19 schools that took part in that year
and represented approximately 60% of the total
number of girls involved.
potential benefits of being active. Their responses
are provided in Fig. 2 and indicate that the vast
majority of girls are aware of at least some of the
benefits of physical activity.
Fig.2 - Benefits of Physical Activity
(PA= Physical Activity)
While limited to Phase Two, the survey gathered data
from a wide range of schools and a considerable
proportion of the girls who participated. It is
suggested, therefore, that the survey findings
reflect a representative cross-section of the
perceptions of girls on their experience of the Girls
Active programme during that year, especially
when considered in conjunction with the findings
from the focus group discussions (Section 4.2)
4.1.1 Age & Class Group
Respondents varied in age from 12yrs to 17yrs
when they participated on Girls Active during
2004/5. The average age was 14.7yrs (Fig. 1).
Fig.1 - Age of Respondents
Every class group from 1st year to 6th year were
represented in the sample 15 . The most common
class group taking part were 4th years (transition
years, 30% of the total), 2nd years (27%) and
5th years (23%). More than half of participants,
therefore, were in senior cycle when they took part
in Girls Active.
4.1.2 Awareness Of Benefits Of Physical
Activity
Respondents were asked whether they agreed or
disagreed with a series of statements relating to the
Over 80% agreed or strongly agreed that
physical activity helps them to feel better and over
70% agreed or strongly agreed that they enjoy
physical activity and that it gives them a feeling
of achievement. A majority (64%) also agreed or
strongly agreed that physical activity helps them to
look better. A smaller but still notable proportion
of respondents (about 50%) agreed or strongly
agreed that physical activity helps them to make
friends and to concentrate better.
4.1.3 Social Personal & Health Education
Programme
Of the 78% of respondents who had a timetabled
SPHE class 16 more than two-thirds (68%) reported
that physical activity was discussed during the
class.
4.1.4 Motivation To Participate
When asked to identify the MAIN reason why they
participated in Girls Active, the majority of girls
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Evaluation of the Girls Active Programme - 2003 – 2005 Report