Written question asked by Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 20 December 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 10 January 2012. It was answered by Tim Loughton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 10 January 2012 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Physical Education

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he has taken to monitor progress against recommended guidelines in the activity level of school children.

Answer: We have removed from schools the burden of having to fill in physical education and sport survey returns, which was a requirement of the previous Government. Instead, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), will introduce a much lighter-touch system of measurement, focusing specifically on schools' participation in competitive sport as part of the School Games. In addition, there will be an independent impact study of the School Games which will sample trends in schools' participation. The details of these are currently being developed.

Secondary information