Bar raised for our sporting youngsters

PUPILS in Oldham will have to run the extra mile if they are to catch-up with some of their neighbouring counterparts.

Only half of five to 16-year-olds at schools across the borough are taking part in three hours of “quality” PE or out-of-school sport, compared with 62 per cent in Rochdale.

Nationally, 51 per cent of pupils take part in 180 minutes of intensive exercise.

The Government had wanted every pupil to take part in at least two hours but have since raised the bar after success across the country.

The new findings, published as part of the PE and Sport Survey 2008/09, has led ministers to raise the benchmark to five hours per week by 2011/12.

Councillor Kay Knox, Cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “The health and well-being of schoolchildren is a key priority for Oldham Council and we’re constantly striving to encourage them to take part in more physical and sporting activities.

“This year, almost 100 per cent of our pupils enjoyed at least two hours of high-quality PE and out-of-hours school sport — but we’re aiming much higher.

“Our next target is to raise that to five hours a week by 2012 and we already have several schemes in place to achieve that.

“We aim to attract as many youngsters as we possibly can.

“Mainstream sports like football and rugby are available, of course, but we also deliver activities like dance and cheerleading — which have attracted many more girls — as well as other unusual sports.

“Free swimming is also available for under-16s. In addition, 19 new activity workers have been appointed to work with each of our primary school partnerships to deliver even more opportunities,” Councillor Knox added.

Ministers said they are raising the standard on youth sport in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics and attributed the progress to “huge improvements” in school sport and £2.4bn in funding up to 2011.

Schools Minister Iain Wright said: “We are aiming high for our young people because they deserve nothing less.

“This won’t be easy, but no true sporting success ever really is.”