Written question asked by Ian Liddell-Grainger (Conservative) on Wednesday, 3 July 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 July 2002. It was answered by Stephen Twigg (Labour) on Wednesday, 10 July 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, how many schools in Somerset provide up to two hours of sport and physical education each week. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Somerset provide up to two hours of sport and physical education each week. [67588] Mr. Stephen Twigg: The Government is committed to all children having two hours of high quality physical education (PE) and school sport a week, within and outside the curriculum. The Specialist Sports College and the School Sport Co-ordinator programmes are helping schools make that a reality. From September 1.8 million pupils will be benefiting from the School Sport Co-ordinator programme within 142 partnerships with nearly 750 co-ordinators and over 3500 primary or special school link teachers. The Department for Education and Skills does not collect data on the number of schools in Somerset that are providing the two hour entitlement. However, we do know that Somerset currently has 1 School Sport Co-ordinator partnership (with 6 co-ordinators) and King Arthur's Community School will begin operating this September as a Sport College. Nationally we estimate that about 25 per cent. of schools--those within School Sport Co-ordinator Partnerships--are offering their pupils access to the two hour entitlement. However, an audit due to take place during the autumn term will check this assumption.

Secondary information