Scottish Schools Meeting PE Targets: According to new figures, released as the Sports Minister, Shona Robinson, formally launched a £5.8m initiative for young people, the vast majority of Scottish schools are meeting their targets for the number of hours of physical education children should undertake each week. Statistics now show that 96% of schools in Scotland provide at least 2 hours (or two periods) of sport each week – up from around 89% last year.

Scottish Schools Meeting PE Targets

A survey of schools also suggested that this figure will rise even more, with 98% of Scottish schools stating they feel they will be able to meet the targets next year. Of Scotland’s 2419 schools, primary schools were the most able to deliver physical education at the target levels, with 97% meeting the two hour a week minimum; this compares to only 90% of secondary schools (a figure which has actually dropped from 91% last year). Last year, only 88% primary schools achieved the target, meaning that the 2014 figures represent a real leap.

The new sport strategy, which Ms Robinson launched today, has been informed by a panel of around 3,000 children and young people – she said that this highlighted the importance placed upon putting the views of young people at the heart of delivery.

However, opposition parties have taken the drop in the figures for Scottish secondary schools meeting the target to mean that the Government has ‘taken its eye off the ball’. MSP Alison Johnstone, of the Scottish Green Party, described the drop as a real worry – stating that schools need proper facilities and proper coaching to ensure exercise is an attractive pass time as young people progress through the school system.