Rework of Bristol Girls Dance Project - NIHR Public Health Board

Active7 is a school-based randomized controlled trial (RCT) that aims to examine;

a) Whether participating in an after-school dance programme positively affects the physical activity levels of Year 7 girls, and;
b) The cost-effectiveness of this intervention.

The study takes place in 18 secondary schools across the greater-Bristol area. To determine the effects of Active7, there will be 9 schools that receive the after-school dance programme (intervention schools), and 9 schools that do not (control schools). The schools will be randomly assigned to the ‘intervention’ or ‘control’ arm of the study.

The dance programme will be led by expert dance instructors. There will be 2x75 minute sessions per week the 9 intervention schools (40 sessions overall). We aim to recruit 30 Year 7 girls from each school to take part in the study.

Many children do not do enough physical activity. Girls are less active than boys. Getting low-active girls to do more physical activity would improve their hearts, lungs, and mental well-being. There is a lack of studies that focus on ways to help girls to be physically active. Dance is an activity that appeals to many girls and could engage low-active girls in physical activity.

Active7 is a cluster RCT that aims to examine; a) whether participating in an after-school dance programme positively affects the physical activity levels of Year 7 girls, and b) the cost-effectiveness of this intervention. The study will take place in 18 state maintained secondary schools in the greater Bristol area. To determine the effect of the programme on children, there will be nine schools that receive the after-school dance programme (intervention schools), and 9 schools that do not (control schools). The schools will be randomly assigned to the ‘intervention’ or ‘control’ arm of the study.

The dance programme will be led by expert dance instructors, and there will be 2x75 minute sessions per week in each of the nine schools (40 sessions overall). We aim to recruit 30 Year 7 girls from each school to take part in the study.
We will examine whether the intervention results in higher levels of physical activity at the end of a 20-week dance programme. We will also assess if this effect is maintained once the programme has ended. We will monitor all financial expenditure against a formal checklist.