Named 5x60 Officer of the Month for May, Harriet is just one of the motivators recruited by Sport Wales’ 5x60 scheme, which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Supported locally by Flintshire County Council, it is designed to get more secondary school pupils taking part in 60 minutes of physical activity five times a week.

The 22-year-old from Northwich in Cheshire, who is a third Dan in Ju-jitsu and a member of the Territorial Army, has persuaded scores of pupils to get off the sidelines into the 5x60 activity sessions.

Harriet has been in post for eleven months, and in that time has introduced a timetable of 12 activities, with the most popular proving to be dodgeball, badminton and ice skating.

She explains: "I enjoy seeing the pupils try new sports and seeing them progress and develop not only in sporting aspects but becoming more confident. The best achievement for me is getting pupils involved in sports who don’t usually participate in traditional activities."

She added: "Ice-Skating is one of my favourite sports, as I enjoy seeing how far the girls that go have progressed. Some had never skated before and now can skate backwards and do spins - it’s great to see! The climbing, street dance and curling sessions are really good fun too."

Demi Lewis, Year 7 pupil at John Summers High School, said: "5x60 offers great things. I enjoy taking part in ice skating and street dance. It offers the school opportunities to take part in a lot of activities. There’s a good range of activities and without 5x60 I wouldn’t have been able to go ice skating. I’m so glad I’ve had the chance to take part."

Colette Roberts, Year 8 Pupil, at John Summers High School, said: "I really enjoyed the curling, because it’s something different, and it’s nice to try something new. Curling is really good because you interact with other people and it keeps you fit and healthy."

Ms. Sargent, Head of PE at John Summers High School, said: "Harriet has produced an extra-curricular timetable bringing together the PE Department and 5x60 extra-curricular activities. Main activities for this term are ice skating, street dance, basketball, badminton and a new activity of table tennis, where three tables have been purchased by the 5x60 scheme. Pupils seem to be enjoying the new variety of extra-curricular activities."

Delighted with the success of the programme, Chair of Sport Wales, Professor Laura McAllister, said:

"We at Sport Wales are committed to our goal of ensuring every child is hooked on sport for life. The wide variety of exciting activities available to our young people through the 5x60 scheme, delivered by our greatest assets - dedicated people like Harriet – go a long way towards helping us realise that ambition."