Active uniform pilot commences in London school

The Youth Sport Trust has launched new initiative with Harbinger Primary School in London to demonstrate the impact of 'active' school uniforms and how they could be key to tackling the nation’s growing inactivity crisis among children. 

In partnership with Sports Direct, every child starting Reception for the 2025/26 academic year at Harbinger Primary School received an Always Active Uniform, gifted by Under Armour, to wear in place of the school’s traditional uniform.

The Always Active Uniform is a flexible, comfortable school uniform including active footwear, designed to support spontaneous movement and daily activity throughout the school day.

To understand the impact of this change, pupils will also be wearing donated Moki Bands, as part of a live research project capturing real-time data on how much children move during the school day following this change in uniform. The pilot offers a unique opportunity to see how a simple change in what children wear could spark greater activity and healthier habits.

Ahead of the pilot commencing, Stoke City defender (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur) and Under Armour athlete, Ashley Phillips, joined Harbinger Primary School during National School Sports Week in June to deliver the Always Active Uniform to the school and inspire pupils to embrace movement.
Watch the video here.

Currently, only 47% of young people achieve the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity and in Tower Hamlets specifically, where Harbinger Primary School is located, over half of children are overweight or obese by age 11. Increasing sedentary screen time as well as increasing limits on opportunities for outdoor play are contributing to a national crisis in children’s health. This pilot will explore the impact of the Always Active Uniform impact in this area of need, providing insights that could inform broader strategies to improve children’s activity levels and overall health.

Beyond the clear physical health benefits, schools who have already adopted an Always Active uniform have reported wider positive impacts, such as improved comfort and focus in class, greater inclusion, and reduced costs for families.

Ali Oliver MBE, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “Children are happiest and healthiest when they move. Research has shown that traditional uniforms can be a barrier to activity, particularly for girls, and too many children are currently missing out, which has an impact on their confidence and learning, as well as their overall development and wellbeing. We understand that schools are under pressure to prioritise academic subjects, which unfortunately has led to an ongoing trend of decreasing PE hours taught. So, whilst we continue to campaign for the reprioritisation of PE, it’s equally important that we find practical ways to help students build movement into every part of the school day. We believe something as simple as what children wear to school could unlock more active days and the multitude of benefits that accompanies it. We are extremely grateful to our partners for supporting this project, giving us the chance to show the difference we can make to children’s lives by helping them move more. We can’t wait to see the impact.”