A sharp decline in physical education (PE) hours in England’s secondary schools is a "troubling" trend that demands immediate attention, according to the Youth Sport Trust (YST).
The children's fitness charity has raised concerns over nearly 4,000 PE hours lost in state-funded schools in the past year alone.
The UK government recommends that pupils receive two hours of PE each week, but the YST says this is not being consistently delivered. Since the London 2012 Olympics, nearly 45,000 PE hours have reportedly vanished from secondary school schedules. In the same period, the number of PE teachers in England has dropped by 7%.
The charity's annual report also reveals that 2.2 million children in England are now getting less than 30 minutes of physical activity a day. Fewer than half (48%) meet the Chief Medical Officers’ guideline of at least 60 minutes of daily activity.
The most significant reductions affect students aged 11 to 14, with over 2,800 hours cut and 347 teachers lost in the past year—despite rising levels of childhood obesity.
Certain groups, including girls, children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, continue to face the most obstacles to staying active, the report says.
Still, the appetite for activity remains high: 93% of young people say PE is important, 71% want more opportunities to be active at school, and 96% of teachers agree that sport and play support mental wellbeing.
‘We risk failing a generation’
PE is a compulsory subject in schools, but the recommended two-hour weekly target is not legally enforced.
YST chief executive Ali Oliver warned, “Our children are moving less, feeling unhappier, and losing access to the transformative power of PE. The drop in PE hours is part of a worrying long-term trend that must serve as a wake-up call. Without urgent action to boost activity and wellbeing, we risk failing a generation.”
Government response
The government acknowledged the concerns, blaming the issue on previous administrations. It emphasized its commitment to improving access to school sports through its "Plan for Change."
A spokesperson stated: “We are determined to break down barriers to PE and sport for all pupils. We've already invested £100 million to upgrade facilities and launched initiatives to improve access for children with SEND. Our curriculum review aims to ensure children have broad learning opportunities—including PE.” Photo by Tysto, Wikimedia commons.
