Students from a Flintshire primary school have been put through their army paces, while having fun in the process!
Forces Fitness, an award-winning company that works closely with many schools and other organisations, has spent the last month running their training programme at St Ethelwold's School in Shotton. All their sessions are run by either ex or serving members of the armed forces.
Pupils from years 3, 4, 5 and 6 were challenged mentally and physically, while working on building resilience and they took part in team building and communication challenges.
This opportunity has been made possible by a grant from Sport Wales through their Active Education Beyond the Classroom fund.
The aim of this funding is to give every child access to sport and physical activity opportunities beyond the school day.
The school engaged Forces Fitness who organised sessions for the students every Monday after school. Other providers also ran taekwondo and street dance sessions during the week.
Head teacher, Paul Oliver, said: "We were delighted to receive this funding. The Forces Fitness sessions are high octane and high excitement and universally loved by the pupils - each and every one gains so much from the experience.
"To see some of our quieter and shy pupils come out of their shells and get stuck into the jousting challenges, the tyre pulls and the games, and to come away from that with increased confidence and sense of worth, is that intangible thing that is priceless.
"The smiles, the passion, the grit, and the determination of these pupils is something special and thanks to the funding we were lucky enough to get, we are able to provide the opportunities."
Sean Molino BCA, director of Forces Fitness, said: "We are so pleased to be delivering our fun programme that focuses on health, wellbeing and building resilience to the students St Ethelwold's.
"We hope that this will be the start of a fantastic relationship with the schools in Flintshire.
"Our long term goal has always been to be able to improve our future generation's health and wellbeing in all of Wales. We love inspiring them with our team of qualified military veterans."
The programme has been deemed a great success, with many of the youngsters taking part keen for it to become a regular event.
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