§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the amount of time allocated in schools for physical education and the number of professionally qualified staff available to teach it; what guidance she is giving to local education authorities regarding these matters; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. OakesThe allocation of time to particular subjects in schools is a matter for individual local education authorities and the schools themselves. I am not aware of any shortage of physical education teachers. Regional plans for the future initial teacher training system indicate that the proportion of provision for 123W physical education both on BEd courses—where it is higher than for any other subject specialism—and at postgraduate level is being fully maintained. My Department has not issued any specific guidance to local education authorities on these matters.