Physical Education

Department for Education written question – answered at on 13 December 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Labour

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role that physical education and school sport can play in tackling childhood obesity.

Photo of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Labour

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits to children of participation in physical education and school sport.

Photo of Lord Agnew of Oulton Lord Agnew of Oulton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education

The government is clear that physical education (PE) and school sport is important as it teaches pupils the importance of developing healthy habits from an early age that can have positive impacts on pupil health, mental wellbeing, character and childhood obesity. The first ever Active Lives Children and Young People Survey published by Sport England on 6 December showed a positive association between engagement in sport and physical activity and levels of mental wellbeing. The survey is attached.

In October my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education announced a new School Sport and Activity Action Plan to be published in spring 2019 which will help get more young people active and enjoying the benefits of sport.

Through the Childhood Obesity Plan, attached, the government is supporting the delivery of the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines that every primary age child should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to physical activity a day, of which 30 minutes should be delivered in school. The Childhood Obesity Plan Chapter 2 update, attached, sets out that the government will promote a national ambition for every primary school to embrace an active mile, such as the Daily Mile into the school day.

Through the primary PE and sport premium, the government has invested over £1 billion of ring-fenced funding to primary schools to improve PE and sport since 2013. A further £100 million of revenue generated from the Soft Drinks Industry Levy has been used for the Healthy Pupils Capital Fund in 2018-19, which can be used to improve children’s access to facilities for physical activity.

Childhood_Obesity_Plan (PDF Document, 409.15 KB)
Childhood_Obesity_Plan_Chapter_2 (PDF Document, 544.48 KB)

Does this answer the above question?

Yes1 person thinks so

No0 people think not

Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.