ZigZag has partnered with Fit For Sport to encourage school children to exercise and improve their fitness levels.

In 2007, Fit For Sport’s Fitter Schools UK Challenge engaged almost 3,000 UK schools and more than 1 million children, improving the participating children’s fitness levels on average by 14.5 per cent.

ZigZag will kit out one of the winning national primary/secondary schools of the 2008 Challenge with its fitness-based dance platforms, which involve children moving their feet to music following step routines shown on a plasma screen.

The Challenge is supported by former Arsenal and England footballer Ian Wright, and aims to build upon the success of last year’s inaugural event.

The national winners in both primary and secondary categories will be the schools demonstrating the biggest improvement in its pupils’ fitness levels, as well as the highest average fitness score per pupil. The winning schools will receive thousands of pounds worth of sports equipment or coaching services.

The dance system is installed with two dance mats linked to a PS2, as well as four dummy practice mats and a school curriculum dance programme. Children take turns to workout on the active mats, while their classmates practice on the dummy pads.

Both national and regional winners of the Fitter Schools UK Challenge will be announced in June and invited to a special awards day with the Challenge team and Ian Wright.