PE & School Sport
PE and sport in schools both within and beyond the curriculum can improve:
- Pupil concentration, commitment and self-esteem, leading to higher attendance and better behaviour and attainment
- Fitness levels: active children are less likely to be obese and more likely to pursue sporting activities as adults, thereby reducing the likelihood of coronary heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer
- Success in international competition by ensuring talented young sports people have a clear pathway to elite sport and competition whatever their circumstances
In 2002, the government launched the Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) strategy, which is delivered through the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) through eight programmes.
The government’s aim is to enhance the take up of sporting opportunities by 5-16 year olds, increasing the percentage of children in England who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75% by 2006.