Commenting on the release of the Curriculum and Assessment Review Interim Report, Youth Sport Trust CEO Ali Oliver MBE said:

“A curriculum fit for the future can only succeed if we are making our children fit for the future too. By increasing physical activity levels in schools, we can develop children who are happy, healthy and ready to learn.

“The Review’s ambition to create a cutting-edge curriculum giving children and young people essential knowledge and skills to adapt and thrive in the world and workplace of the future, is one we welcome. It is imperative the revised curriculum fully embraces the contribution physical activity including PE, sport and play can make in achieving this objective.

“The Review’s Interim Report highlights children, young people and parents alike voiced a desire for greater focus on applied knowledge and skills to support achievement later in life. As research carried out for the Youth Sport Trust shows, 76% of parents and 70% of teachers agree one of the key benefits of sport and play is the development of good life skills.

“With 91% of primary aged pupils saying being active helps them learn, now is the time to unleash the power of PE and sport to develop happier and healthier children, equipped to thrive in classrooms and learning environments. Capitalising on the contribution PE and sport can make is more important than ever at a time when so many children are struggling with poor physical, mental and social health worsened by inactivity, and schools are uniquely placed to deliver a universal offer, so no child misses out.

“However, as the Report states, some subjects have been squeezed in recent years including PE, with 41,000 fewer PE hours taught in 2023/24 compared to 2011/12. The reduction in the status of PE in schools has meant more children than ever are unable to access the benefits from being active, hurting their wellbeing, development and progress at school.

“While the Report notes breadth may be provided through enrichment activities beyond the curriculum, such as through music, drama, and sports, we are clear that valuable co-curricular opportunities must be additional to a PE and sport offering at the core of the curriculum and reaching every child, including those for whom the system isn’t currently working well. This is particularly important for SEND and socio-disadvantaged students, who often have limited access to extra-curricular sports activities and face a similar attainment gap in physical activity when compared to other students. Ensuring equal access to physical activity can help close this gap and support these students in achieving better overall outcomes. We understand the challenges faced by the Review team in balancing competing priorities and hope the message from children, teachers and parents that physical activity in schools is invaluable has been heard.

“We are pleased the Review will now closely analyse each subject’s specific challenges and look forward to sharing our insights, as well as those from the schools, school leaders and teachers we work with who are improving children and young people’s education and life chances daily through the power of play and sport. We reiterate our hope that the Review’s final report later this year fully unlocks the potential of physical activity to support wellbeing, belonging in school and engagement in learning, and broader personal development through the development of essential skills, attitudes and values.”