LETTER: School PE lessons must be more strenuous

With childhood obesity at record levels, it comes as no surprise that, according to the latest Ofsted report, school children are not being physically challenged in their PE lessons at primary and secondary school level.

By The Newsroom

Published 27th Feb 2013, 08:59 BST

Encouraging pupils to choose healthy eating options will only ever form part of the solution to tackle the growing problem of childhood obesity. Without more strenuous exercise through fun, competitive PE lessons, an improved diet will only go so far.

For many pupils, PE lessons provide a chance to express their talents, especially if they are not suited to traditional theory-based classroom learning. Studies have shown that pupils who get the most from their PE lessons tend to have far greater concentration levels in other classes and therefore achieve better grades.

PE lessons in school must be made more strenuous and worthwhile; otherwise I fear the already oversized waistlines of school children will continue to grow out of control.

PAUL NUTTALL

UKIP North West MEP