The school's year 10 woodwork pupils have started designing human-powered trolleys which they plan to race against each other and the rest of the school over the last two weeks of the third term.
The calorie-burning idea is the brainchild of woodwork teacher Neil Armstrong - not the first man to walk on the moon, but a man keen to see his pupils take one small step for themselves and a collective leap in the battle against the bulge.
Obesity had become a problem with New Zealand school pupils and he believed there had to be a way of getting kids off the couch, but also creat-ive at the same time.
His woodwork pupils are the project's "guinea pigs".
They have been asked to design their own trolleys that they will push and ride in a series of races among themselves and against the wider school community.
Aside from getting their grey matter ticking over, their pulse rates should also lift in the coming weeks as the school's physical education department comes up with a fitness training programme to build muscle and stamina for the trolley races, while the home economics unit has come to the party with some diet and nutrition advice.
Instead of motorised trolley racing, the creations will be pushed by pupils, so a bit of sweat is induced and calories are burnt.
The trolley competition will be opened up to the rest of the school although it will be the woodwork pupils getting the advantage of a specially designed nutrition and exercise programme to get them in better shape.
Mr Armstrong said the scheme was a work in progress and largely an experiment this year but he was keen to expand it and make it a regular event for the woodwork classes and school.
Some of his pupils were working on their trolley designs yesterday with one taking inspiration from a Model T Ford while another was a sleek, aerodynamic creation.
They were excited about getting to make their own trolleys, but slightly nervous about the exercise and nutrition programme ahead.
Daniel Mackie (14) was keen to see how the programme made him fitter.
"It will be all right though - better than inside, watching the telly."
