HC Deb 21 May 2003 vol 405 cc832-3W
Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many school sports co-ordinators were in post in England on 1 April 2003;[114688]

(2) if he will estimate what percentage of children in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools are receiving two hours of physical activity per week. [114689]

Mr. Miliband

There were 765 school sports co-ordinators in post in April 2003 working in 149 school sports co- ordinator partnerships with 3,525 primary or special school link teachers.

The Department for Education and Skills does not collect information on the amount of time school children spend on physical activity. Information is collected on progress towards ensuring school children spend at least two hours a week on high quality physical education and school sport within and beyond the curriculum. An ambitious Public Service Agreement target has been set to enhance the take up of sporting opportunities for 5 to 16-year-olds by increasing the percentage of school children who spend at least two hours a week on PE and school sport to 75 per cent. by 2006. Currently, about a quarter of schools provide this entitlement at Key Stage 1, two fifths at Key Stage 2 and a third at Key Stages 3 and 4.