Trampolines have become a breakout hit at Te Aute College in Central Hawke’s Bay. Since being installed earlier this year, students have had to set up their own rules to manage the demand at breaktimes.

The school is one of 50 secondary schools and wharekura across Aotearoa involved in Active As, a Sport NZ-funded programme that puts rangatahi in the driver’s seat to decide how physical activity happens at their school.

At Te Aute, as well as trampolines, there is a new gym for working out, four table tennis tables in the wharekai where students and teachers play each other, and a growing interest in netball, going from two teams in 2024 to six in 2025.

 
Ākonga enjoy a new gym for working out at Te Aute College.

Jamie, a Year 13 student and part of Te Aute College’s Active As leadership group, says students are now more active because they have choices that reflect what they want to do.

“Having your own sense of will and knowing what you want to do and being able to do that, it’s just a good way to express ourselves,” he says.

He’s seen some huge shifts at his school since he was a junior.

“When I was Year 9 … if you didn’t play rugby, or you didn’t play a certain sport, you didn’t have to really do much physical activity at all. Now everyone gets up and gets moving.”

The shift isn’t just happening during breaktimes, it’s showing up in the classroom too. In 2024, Te Aute College reported a 100% pass rate for Years 11–13, with a record number of merit and excellence endorsements.

Jamie says Active As has played a crucial role in that, because being physically active allows a release from the pressures of school.

Planning to study tourism next year, Jamie says his experience at Te Aute College has reinforced just how important physical activity is to his overall wellbeing.

“I love being active. It just helps me ease my mind through tough times,” he says.

Sport NZ’s Active bodies, active minds report supports this. Research shows increased time allocated to physical activity, whether through brain breaks or free play at breaktime, can positively impact engagement and success at school. 

Adapted from an article originally published in the Ed Gazette, 13 October 2025.

Students say the increased options for physical activity at Te Aute, including netball, is leading to stronger relationships across year levels and academic success in the classroom.