Wednesday 14 January 2015 19:18, UK
A new survey shows the Government has seen an alarming fall in PE time in schools since it came into power, with the figures casting doubts over the promises of Olympic legacy and sports participation.
The survey by the Youth Sport Trust has revealed that the amount of PE done in schools has dramatically reduced during the coalition government's four-and-a-half-years in office, with children now doing less than two hours a week of phyical activity.
Key points from the survey indicate that children spend on average only 102 minutes per week taking part in PE, and that figure is down on the 2009-2010 survey which showed children were spending 126 minutes per week.
The survey by the Youth Sport Trust conducted in 2009-10 showed that, on average, children aged between five and seven did 126 minutes of PE a week.
But, four-and-a-half-years on, that age group do just 102 minutes of PE per week - which is 24 minutes less.
It is a similar story in the seven-to-eleven age group; in 2009-10 those children were participating in 127 minutes of PE per week, but they are now doing 13 minutes less, under two hours a week.
Ali Oliver, from the Youth Sport Trust, told Sky Sports News HQ: "It's a huge problem and it's a huge problem for lots of reasons.
"We know that one in three children at the time of which they are leaving primary schools are already overweight or obese. Only one in five are doing the recommended levels of activity.
"Physical activity isn't just about physical health, it's your emotional health as well, and there are lots of challenges that face young people from self-image challenges, stress and anxiety around pressure in school and in life.
"They are always on social media so they lack some of the interpersonal skills that are needed to communicate with others about their issues.
"There are lots of things we can do through PE and sport, not just get people active, but help them develop skills for their life."
