The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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School pupils to get physical

14/06/2004

Physical Education will have an increased role inScotland's schools according to new measures announced today.

Responding to the PE Review Group's report, published today, Education Minister Peter Peacock said that he was committed to boosting the opportunities for allScotland's pupils to adopt more active lifestyles.

The measures include:

• At least two hours PE per week for all pupils
• 400 more PE teachers
• Greater choice of activities

Mr Peacock said:

"When I was at school I had the great fortune to have an inspiring PE teacher. While Bill McLaren may have been the voice of rugby worldwide, in my school days he was also the voice of cricket, of athletics, of tennis, of swimming and every other sport imaginable.

"A large part of my enthusiasm for what I am announcing today derives from the very positive experience of PE I had at school. I want more and more young people to have the opportunity to be engaged by sport, to have greater choice in the activities they pursue and to be inspired by their PE teachers, just as I was.

"We all know the benefits that flow from a healthy lifestyle and school has a major part to play in ensuring every young person is more active. Today I am not just accepting the report's recommendations, I am going further than they suggested.

"The Executive is committed to improving levels of physical activity and helping turn the tide of growing obesity levels. To do this, we need to make it easier and fun for young people to be engaged and more active - the measures I have announced today will do just that.

"By increasing the amount of time allocated to PE and training more teachers, pupils will receive high quality PE from an early age. Increasing the choice of activities - to include activities like dance, aerobics and martial arts - will help to reach pupils, particularly girls, who may have been turned off by more traditional sports.

"I believe it's crucial that young people build activity into their lives from the earliest age and that's why I am also looking at ways to encourage the development of appropriate physical education in the pre-school sector.

"I know that revamping PE alone cannot make Scots more active. But it can make activity more attractive and, coupled with existing initiatives, ensure future generations have solid foundations for lifelong engagement in sports and a healthier life."

North Lanarkshire Council Education Director Michael O'Neill, who chaired the PE Review Group, said:

"I welcome the minister's endorsement of the principles underpinning our report and his willingness to resource the recommendation. I am sure that, over the next few years, the importance of these recommendations will lead to significant improvements in both the levels of participation in PE and in the quality of provision."

Guidance will be issued to councils to help them meet the requirements and regarding performance measures to monitor progress towards the two hour target. HMIE will monitor improvements and develop best practice guidance.

Over the three years to 2005/06, £24 million is being invested to develop and expand the Active Schools Programme. More than 600 Active School Co-ordinators will be in post by 2007 to increase activity levels among all pupils.

The 400 additional teachers will be part of the Executive's commitment to increase teacher numbers to 53,000 by 2007.

Increasing the time allocated to PE in schools is one of the key targets set out in Sport 21 -Scotland's national strategy for sport 2003-2007. The strategy recommends that progress should be made towards ensuring that all school children take part in at least two hours of high quality PE classes each week.

The Scottish Health Survey shows that 27 per cent of boys and 40 per cent of girls are not active enough to meet the minimum guideline for health (an accumulation of one hour per day, most days of the week).

Activity levels vary by age and gender, with girls' levels falling earlier and at a faster rate than boys. By 16, two in three girls and one in three boys do not meet the recommended minimum level.