A scheme to measure kids’ fitness more accurately than BMI is being trialled in Islington schools to help build each child a fitness programme.

The “my personal best” initiative is being trialled in both Islington and Camden, with Olympic gold medallist Duncan Goodhew visiting St Jude and St Paul’s primary school in Kingsbury Road to launch the scheme.

“It’s so important that children are helped to strive for their personal bests, and encouraged to live active and healthy lifestyles,” he said.

Three-quarters of UK schoolchildren are judged as “not doing enough” physical exercise to keep them healthy. It is estimated that some 37,000 deaths a year could be prevented if everyone in England met the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines, which vary between age groups.

At the moment not all schools in Islington are running the scheme. Luke Miles from organisers Premier Sport is asking parents who would like their children’s schools to get involved to e-mail him: lmiles@premiersport.org.