A milestone in promoting physical activity in schools: ‘BeKiGeKi’ incorporated into the Thuringian primary school curriculum

This means that, within the ‘Fitness & Health’ activity area in primary schools, the ‘Movement Check’ is a compulsory requirement for all Year 3 pupils. Right from its introductory chapter, the curriculum emphasises its contribution to the targeted development of motor and sporting skills. The pilot version of the 2026 curriculum has been in force for Years 1 and 3 since the 2026/2027 school year. It now explicitly embeds the programme – which has been compulsory since 2022/2023 – within the curricular framework of physical education in primary schools, as well as in the primary cycle of Thuringia’s mainstream and special schools.

“This is a milestone in the promotion of physical activity in schools,” says Dr Florian Bähr from the Department of Sport and Movement Sciences at the Faculty of Education at the University of Erfurt, who is the academic lead for the “BeKiGeKi” project. 

The reach of “BeKiGeKi” is considerable: for the 2025/2026 school year alone, there are documented physical activity assessments for 17,029 children at 470 schools. Since the 2017/2018 school year, the database has comprised more than 83,000 documented cases. Behind these figures lie the annual tests carried out by teaching staff and a comprehensive scientific evaluation: six standardised tests assess endurance, coordination, speed, strength and balance. Individual feedback on results and recommendations for action, as well as feedback to the schools, support targeted promotion of physical activity. At the same time, the study examines how children’s physical fitness develops and how it relates to physical, regional and social factors. 

“The findings are shared with schools, clubs, associations and the general public via the project’s freely accessible results page, where they can be utilised in their own work,” explains Dr Florian Bähr. Internationally, the findings are also being published in specialist scientific journals, including a study by Bähr and colleagues in *Scientific Reports* (2025). “BeKiGeKi” thus combines nationwide school practice, knowledge transfer to society and international research.