HC Deb 31 July 1998 vol 317 c803W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidelines his Department has issued on the minimum number of sports which schools should offer. [54654]

Mr. Charles Clarke

Physical education must be taught to all children throughout their compulsory schooling. The National Curriculum for physical education consists of six areas of activity and schools have a degree of freedom in deciding which activities to teach.

The Department does not issue guidelines on which sports schools should offer. However, primary schools are required to teach swimming; and secondary schools must teach competitive team and individual games.