You are in > manchester.com  > News > Nearly 1m children not receiving target exercise levels

Health

Nearly 1m children not receiving target exercise levels

31/01/2008

The government has "failed to reach" 900,000 children not receiving the target two hours' PE and school sport per week, it has been claimed today.

A written answer to the Conservatives revealed 14 per cent of five- to 16-year-olds were not receiving the exercise required under a 2004 public service agreement.

Shadow sports minister Hugh Robertson said the government should be concentrating on rectifying this situation rather than announcing "unbelievable targets with inadequate resources and no deliver plan".

Schools minister Kevin Brennan said he expected the number of children not getting enough exercise in school to fall "significantly" by September 2008.

The government is on track to beat its target of 85 per cent of children getting two hours' PE and sport by that date, he added. Its 2006/07 school survey showed 86 per cent were meeting the required level.

Substantial progress has already been made – in 2002 only a quarter of schoolchildren were getting two hours' exercise every week.