Ofsted reports increase in school sports
Ofsted has reported that a Government scheme to increase the quantity and quality of sport in schools is working.
The report from the school inspectorate, out on Thursday, found that pupils are spending more time on physical education and sports as a result of the school sport partnership programme.
Between 2003-04, Ofsted found that there has been a significant improvement in the quality of sports teaching and extra-curricular activities, particularly in primary schools.
With politicians of all parties concerned by the rising levels of obesity in the UK’s youth, increasing the levels of physical activity is seen as crucial.
The school sport partnerships programme, running since September 2000, aims to ensure that pupils spend a minimum of two hours a week on PE. It links primary and secondary schools with a specialist sports college.
The scheme will be rolled out to all schools in 2006. So far £459 million has been invested in the strategy, with the ultimate aim to increase the percentage of school pupils who spend a minimum of two hours a week on PE to 75 per cent by 2006.
Chief Inspector of Schools, David Bell, said: “The big improvement in the quality of teaching in PE and extra curricular sports activities is also very good news for pupils and schools. In addition, there are also promising signs that the programme is raising standards and improving the quality of provision.”
“However, not all schools involved in the partnerships are yet benefiting as progress and priorities in schools remain uneven and the report identifies much room for improvement.”
Although the increase in sport is likely to be welcomed, a number of backbenchers are becoming increasingly concerned by the nutritional content of school meals.
A number of backbenchers have tabled a Food in Schools Bill which calls on all schools to have a food policy, aimed at extending the entitlement of free schools meals, increasing the provision of free fruit and introducing legal requirements that meals should be nutritious.
The Bill is unlikely to become law due to time constraints, but its backers hope that it will persuade ministers to take action.
Labour MP Julia Drown said: “It is important that the Government knows that MPs are concerned about childhood obesity and this Bill shows the importance encouraging and funding schools to promote strong messages about healthy eating that will remain with children throughout their lives.”
A backbench bill to ban junk food in school vending machines is also before Parliament, and ministers are to face questions in the House on their progress in encouraging healthier meals.
