KEVIN SCHOFIELD
EDUCATION CORRESPONDENT
SCHOOL pupils are to be given at least two hours of physical education every week within four years as part of the Scottish Executive�s drive to combat childhood obesity, it was announced yesterday.
An extra 400 PE teachers are to be recruited, and less-traditional activities such as skateboarding, aerobics and martial arts will be promoted in schools as part of the biggest shake-up of physical education in generations.
Peter Peacock, the education minister, made the announcement as he revealed he was accepting all of the recommendations of the physical education review group, which published its report at Lasswade High School in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, yesterday.
Mr Peacock said PE in schools had become "marginalised" over the years and that it was time it was put back at the heart of the curriculum.
He said: "Not only do I accept all of the recommendations, it is my intention to move beyond these and sanction the biggest boost to physical education in schools for generations.
"I am doing this because I believe that this is an area of the curriculum which, exceptionally, needs greater priority to support the health and wellbeing of young people in Scotland.
"We must build the foundations for healthy and active lifestyles at an early age and we know that physical activity can help improve motivation and achievement in many other areas of school life."
Mr Peacock said the group set up to carry out the review of the school curriculum will also be charged with ensuring there is enough flexibility in the school day to make sure there is time to provide at least two hours of PE a week for every pupil.
He said the group would also be asked to draw up advice on how best to introduce PE in nursery schools. Primary schools will be given greater access to specialist PE teachers.
The minister said he has set a target of the 2007-8 school year for the two-hours-a-week target to be met. Her Majesty�s Inspectorate of Education has been told to monitor the implementation of the policy in future school inspections.
The 400 extra PE teachers will be recruited as part of the Executive�s commitment to increasing teacher numbers to 53,000 by 2007.
"I would encourage all schools and education authorities to act on the recommendations as soon as they can," the minister said.
"With this report, Scotland has the opportunity to address strengthening learning and overcoming problems of inactivity and growing obesity in young people. The report provides the template and I will provide the support to help schools and education authorities achieve the outcomes to which we all aspire - supporting the health and wellbeing of our young people and improving their motivation, engagement in school life and attainment."
Tackling obesity has risen to the top of the political agenda in recent weeks. A report by MPs warned that unless drastic action was taken now, today�s children could become the first generation to die before their parents from diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Michael O�Neill, the education director at North Lanarkshire Council and the chairman of the PE review group, warned that the changes would not be implemented overnight.
He said: "It will take time to train and recruit additional staff, but the commitment is there and so is the money to take it forward."
The Rev Ewan Aitken, the education spokesman for the local- authority umbrella group COSLA, welcomed the aims of the report. But he added: "[The aims] will, however, require to be addressed in context, bearing in mind the availability of resources, the already crowded curriculum and the shortage of PE teachers."
Fiona Hyslop, the SNP shadow education minister, said: "While the recruitment of more PE teachers to tackle childhood obesity should be welcomed, the Executive must ensure that any new school will provide out-of-school access for sports facilities, especially considering the reduction in playing fields across the country.
"It should not have taken an extensive review to come to the conclusion that every school should have access to a PE specialist. This is not rocket science, it is common sense."