The 2006/07 School Sport Survey found that 86 per cent of pupils now participate
in at least two hours of PE and school sport per week, meaning that the
Government has met its target – for 85 per cent to do two hours of PE and school
sport per week by 2008 – a year ahead of schedule.

Other key findings from the report, based on a survey of more than 21,700
maintained schools, show:

• Competitive sport is on the increase – 98 per cent of schools reported
  that they held at least one sports day during 2006/07, while a further 58 per
  cent of schools hold other intra-school competitions. Meanwhile, more than a
  third (35 per cent) of pupils were involved in inter-school competitions last
  year. Participation rates in inter-school competition vary by age, reaching a
  peak of 61 per cent among 10 to 11 year olds. All comparable figures show rises
  in the proportion playing competitive sport.
• The variety of sports offered at schools is rising – the average range of sports offered by
  primary school has increased to 16.0.
• Many schools are embracing non-traditional sports – the proportion of
  schools offering golf (up from 23 per cent to 31 per cent), cycling (up from 34
  per cent to 42 per cent), archery (up from 16 per cent to 22 per cent), canoeing
  (up from 24 per cent to 29 per cent) and orienteering (up from 55 per cent to 59
  per cent) have risen significantly over the last twelve months.
• Familiar sports remain pre-eminent in schools – the five most popular
  sports offered by schools are football (98 per cent), dance (96 per cent),
  gymnastics (95 per cent), athletics (93 per cent) and cricket (90 per cent).
• Schools are building more links with local clubs – schools now have
  links to seven different sports clubs. Two years ago, the average was just five.
  The most common links are with football clubs (78 per cent), cricket (56 per
  cent), dance (45 per cent), rugby union (44 per cent) and swimming (42 per
  cent).
• Schools are getting better at identifying sporting excellence – the
  proportion of pupils registered gifted and talented has more than doubled in
  four years – from 3 per cent in 2003/04 to 7 per cent this year.

Well done to us all!