Run:ED: Getting pupils moving with self-paced activity

Written by Archie Norman - Digital Project Manager - mmtm

The challenge: get kids moving, and keep them engaged

When Aspire Active Education Group came to us, the goal was clear: help schools increase physical activity in a way that actually sticks. But that’s no small feat.

Most activity-based apps just track distance, but Aspire wanted more than that - they wanted motivation, fun, curricular alignment, and impact.

We collectively saw an opportunity to build something new: a simple, school-friendly running app that uses gamification to inspire kids to form healthier habits. Enter Run:ED.

Turning PE into a playful digital journey

Rather than logging laps for the sake of it, Run:ED transforms every run into part of a bigger adventure.

Pupils rack up real-world miles to move their school, class, house, sports club or team around a virtual map - unlocking milestones, achieving goals, and contributing to their team’s progress.

It’s a collective experience that taps into the psychology of motivation:

✅ Progress that’s visual and satisfying

✅ Friendly competition without pressure

✅ A sense of belonging and purpose

We’ve written more about this in our article on gamification and user engagement.

A partnership with a common goal

Aspire had the education industry expertise, the energy, and a clear vision. We helped bring that to life through product design and development that made it:

💡 Easy for teachers to use - with simple tools to track, manage and celebrate activity

😮 Exciting for pupils - with feedback, milestones and map movement that feels rewarding

⚡ Fast, robust, and secure under the hood - so the tech gets out of the way and lets the experience shine

The result? A focused, fun app that schools can pick up and start using straight away - no headaches, no lengthy onboarding.

Making impact measurable

We worked closely with Aspire to ensure the platform didn’t just feel good to use - it also delivered real, measurable results.

We've run two separate pilot phases with schools across the UK implementing it into their timetables, collectively racking up over 24,000km - with 2,500+ runners taking part in almost 800 runs!

It’s the kind of tool that can grow with schools - and with Aspire’s plans for expansion, there’s much more to come.

Want the full story, including how we ran user research and co-designed the experience with Aspire’s team?

Check out our case study: https://mmtm.io/case_studies/aspire