The Department for Education has confirmed that physical education (PE) will remain a compulsory subject at school as it announced a major review of the National Curriculum in England.
It is proposed that a revised curriculum for PE will set out a clearer expectation that all pupils should play competitive sport, and will retain the expectation that all children learn to swim.
The Government will also consider whether there would be merit in providing some form of guidance to schools about the allocation of time to outdoor physical activities; these considerations will be informed by the outcomes of the review.
This news has been welcomed by the Youth Sport Trust, an organisation that is focused on building a brighter future for young people through PE and sport.
Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, Steve Grainger, said:
"The quality and quantity of PE and school sport that is now being offered in schools has improved vastly in recent years. Ensuring it remains a vital part of the curriculum will allow young people to continue to enjoy the many benefits that sport and physical education can bring."
