Ahead of the Government’s announcement – expected in the
morning – that it is to double the number of hours of sport in
schools, the CCPR has challenged the Prime Minister to ensure
that at least two hours of physical education occur within
curriculum time.

The Government’s announcement is expected to double the
number of hours for sport to four hours – something that is
broadly welcomed by the CCPR. However, the announcement
relates to time inside and outside the curriculum, and thus does
not ensure that all children, especially those who cannot
participate in after hours sports at school, are receiving a
healthy level of physical education.

“Only within curriculum time can physical education help all
children to learn the skills, confidence and knowledge required
for life long participation in sport, dance and physical activity”,
said Margaret Talbot, Chief Executive, CCPR. “For those children
from families without cars and who depend on school buses to
get home, and the 178,000 school-age children who care for
siblings and other family members, staying on after school is
not an option. For them, learning within the school curriculum
is vital.”
The CCPR, the national umbrella organisation for the National
Governing Bodies of Sport and Recreation, believes that only
within curriculum time can physical education help all children
to learn the skills, confidence and knowledge required for life
long participation in sport, dance and physical activity. For those
children from families without cars and who depend on school
buses to get home, and the 178,000 school-age children who
care for siblings and other family members, staying on after
school is not an option. For them, learning within the school
curriculum is vital.
Howard Wells, Chair of the CCPR: “We welcome the Prime
Minister’s continued commitment to school sport, but urge him
to make the specific commitment to increase the amount of time
in the curriculum devoted to physical education. It is only by
making this specific commitment and providing the resources to
deliver it, that every child will be able to enjoy his or her
“entitlement” of good quality physical education. Currently, this
country occupies the bottom of the European league table for
the amount of curriculum time provided for physical education.
This is not a situation of which we should be proud.”
Last week the CCPR wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to
provide two hours of physical education within the school
curriculum.

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Reporter: Kos Galtos