Implementation of The Daily Mile™: survey of primary schools in Greater London

Background

The Daily Mile™ is a free school-based active mile intervention. Its main features include that children run or jog for 15 minutes at least 3 times a week (3x/wk) during school hours. The Daily Mile Foundation recommends 10 principles for successful implementation. These are it is (1) quick (15 minutes), (2) fun, (3) whole school participates, (4) it takes place in all weathers, (5) 3x/wk in addition to curricular lessons (not during PE, breaks, before/after school), (6) ideally in the school playground, (7) safe, (8) simple (no equipment), (9) children go at their own pace and (10) no change of clothes or shoes is needed. The aim of this study was to identify how many Greater London primary schools adopting The Daily Mile implement its 10 principles.

Methods

In September 2020, we sent all state-funded primary schools (n = 1721) in every Greater London borough (n = 32) a survey to find out if and how they implemented The Daily Mile.

Results

By June 2021, 368 (21%) schools responded to our survey (at least one from every London borough). Of these, 195 (53%) schools adopted The Daily Mile of which only 7 (4%) reported implementing all 10 principles; a median 7 (IQR: 6,8) principles were reported implemented. Whole school participation was reported by 93 (48%) Daily Mile schools, 104 (53%) reported implementing The Daily Mile for 15 minutes, 127 (65%) implemented it at least 3x/wk, and 149 (76%) schools reported that the children ran or jogged during The Daily Mile. A large proportion of schools reported implementing The Daily Mile in the school playground and that it was done simply (both n = 171, 88%), but only 85 (44%) schools reported implementing it during lessons.

Conclusions

Daily Mile schools in Greater London implement 7/10 principles on average. Whether implementing all the principles limits the success of its desired effect is unclear. Studies assessing effects of The Daily Mile should consider its implementation when reporting results.

Key messages

Of The Daily Mile’s 10 principles, an average of 7 are implemented in London schools. Studies examining The Daily Mile should consider implementation which may impact its desired effect.

Evaluation of a synthetic single-crystal diamond detector for relative dosimetry measurements on a CyberKnife

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate a new commercial PTW-60019 microDiamond (PTW, Freiburg, Germany) synthetic single-crystal diamond detector for relative dosimetry measurements on a clinical CyberKnife™ VSI (Accuray Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) system.

METHODS

Relative output factors (ROFs) were measured for collimator diameters from 5 to 60 mm, and compared with diode [PTW-60017, PTW-60018 and IBA Dosimetry (Schwarzenbruck, Germany) SFD] and ionization chamber (PTW-31014 PinPoint and PTW-31010 Semiflex) measurements. Beam profiles were measured at a range of depths, and collimator sizes, with the detector stem oriented both parallel and perpendicular to the central axis (CAX). Percentage depth-dose (PDD) curves were obtained for the 60-mm collimator and compared with natural Diamond Detector (PTW-60003) and ionization chamber curves to evaluate energy dependence.

RESULTS

Penumbral broadening was noted on profile measurements made with the microDiamond oriented with the stem parallel to the CAX, in comparison with diodes. Oriented perpendicular to the CAX, the profile penumbra was sharper, but stem effects could not be ruled out. The PDD measurements were within 0.5% of ionization chamber measurements, indicating insignificant dose-rate dependence. The ROF for the microDiamond fell between diode and ionization chamber results. Published Monte Carlo-derived CyberKnife-specific factors were applied to the PTW-60017, PTW-60018 and PTW-31014 ROFs, and the microDiamond factors agreed within 2.0% of the mean of these.

CONCLUSION

Over a range of small field relative dosimetry measurements, the microDiamond detector shows excellent spatial resolution, dose-rate independence and water equivalence.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

The microDiamond is a suitable tool for commissioning stereotactic systems.