A recent survey indicates a troubling trend – the disparity between the number of boys and girls who enjoy physical education (PE) in England is growing. A mere 59% of girls in secondary schools reported that they found PE enjoyable, a significant decline compared to 74% in 2016, while 84% of boys consistently appreciated the subject.
Given the importance of fostering a lifelong passion for sport, the government has expressed its commitment to improving girls’ access to it. They propose broadened initiatives, such as mandating a minimum of two hours of PE per week in schools, bolstered by more than £600 million in funding over two academic years. This financial boost followed an open letter from England’s women’s national football team to the government, pleading for an expansion of sporting opportunities for girls.
Behind this growing aversion to sports among girls lie several contributing factors. Menstruation and low self-confidence surface as the most prevalent reasons. Youth Sport Trust, the charity administering the survey, perceives this data as a warning sign of decreased future activity levels among adult women. It insists that renewed efforts to engage young women in sports are critical.
Referring to the disheartening survey results, Chief Executive of Youth Sport Trust, Ali Oliver, lamented, “There is so much more still to do.” He connected the significance of PE to the current societal backdrop, stating, “At a time of unprecedented low levels of social and emotional wellbeing, we know getting things right for girls in PE can be life-changing.”
This sentiment is echoed by Tizzy, an A-level student, lamentably stating, “Some people really like sport and some people don’t. And you’re forced together and kind of expected to get on with it.” Having never experienced a fondness for sports, Tizzy described feelings of exclusion, frustration, and anxiety associated with the competitive sporting environment.
Other high-profile advocates speak out about the importance of addressing girls’ discomfort in the sporting world. Olympic pole-vault bronze-medallist Holly Bradshaw conveys dire disappointment, offering empathy towards the anxieties of being watched and judged. She revealed her personal struggle with body-confidence issues, exacerbated by online abuse concerning her physique.
Bradshaw suggests a potential solution in schools providing a wider range of PE kit options to enhance girls’ engagement and enjoyment of sports. As we continue to grapple with this issue, it’s clear that more needs to be done to ensure girls and young women have equal access to and love for sports. The survey collected responses from 18,500 girls and 6,000 boys aged seven to 18 across England, with data from 2016 including responses from children in Northern Ireland and Wales as well.
