Written question asked by Barry Sheerman (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 September 2002. It was answered by Stephen Twigg (Labour) on Thursday, 19 September 2002 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether she plans to make sport in schools part of the everyday curriculum.

Answer: Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether she plans to make sport in schools part of the everyday curriculum. [71932] Stephen Twigg: Physical Education (PE) remains a compulsory subject within the National Curriculum at all Key Stages. Our Public Service Agreement target, announced on 15 July, is that by 2006 we will have enhanced the take-up of PE and sporting opportunities by 5 to 16 year olds by increasing the percentage of pupils in schools who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75 per cent. It is for individual schools and their governing bodies to decide how they utilise their timetable to cover the National Curriculum and there is no reason why schools cannot choose to provide PE and sport every day, if this best meets the learning needs of the pupils.

Secondary information