The 2008-09 School Sport Survey showed that 99 per cent. of schools hold their own sports days; 69 per cent. of pupils are playing competitive house or league sport within their own schools (up from 66 per cent. in 2007-08 and 58 per cent. in 2006-07); and 44 per cent. of pupils are playing competitive sport against other schools (up from 41per cent. in 2007-08 and 35 per cent. in 2006-07).
We aim to increase the regularity with which children play competitive sport and have included new questions in the School Sport Survey to measure how regularly pupils compete (both within schools and between schools). 28 per cent. of pupils from years three-13 regularly participated in intra-school competition whilst 19 per cent. of pupils from years three-13 regularly participated in inter-school competition.
The tables outline (a) the percentage of pupils who regularly participated in intra-school competition during the academic year 2008-09 by year group:
Academic year Percentage of pupils involved Year 3 30 Year 4 34 Year 5 41 Year 6 45 Year 7 28 Year 8 27 Year 9 25 Year 10 20 Year 11 16 Year 12 7 Year 13 6
Base: All pupils in years three-13 where information given (5,472,339) and (b) the percentage of pupils who regularly participated in inter-school competition during the academic year2008-09 by year group:
Academic year Percentage of pupils involved Year 3 10 Year 4 15 Year 5 27 Year 6 36 Year 7 21 Year 8 21 Year 9 20 Year 10 17 Year 11 14 Year 12 9 Year 13 9
Base: All pupils in years three-13 where information given (5,472,635) From 2008-11, the Government are investing over £25 million into a network of 225 competition managers to increase the number of young people engaged in regular high quality inter-school competitive events.
Furthermore, the Government are making universal access to regular competitive sport a key part of its new pupil guarantee, which will enshrine in law our commitment to provide competitive sport for all.