Schools told 'up your game' by MP (From Haringey Independent)

Schools told 'up your game' by MP

2:30pm Thursday 24th January 2008

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One in ten Haringey schoolchildren are not getting enough exercise, according to new figures.

Official statistics show 11 per cent of the borough's pupils are not doing the Government's target of at least two hours' exercise a week.

However, the borough fares better than most others in London, with Haringey children ranking joint third in the capital for the time spent doing exercise.

The results were obtained by Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone following a question in parliament.

She said: "Child obesity is quite literally a growing problem. Two hours a week is a bare minimum and it is extremely worrying that such a high proportion of children are not even getting this.

"It is clear that Haringey Council needs to be upping its game on PE in school and I have requested an urgent report on what it is doing to ensure all our pupils are getting this basic requirement."

However, her comments were branded as "unfounded criticism" by the council's education chief, who stressed that 89 per cent of pupils were taking part in two hours' high-quality PE and sport a week.

Councillor Liz Santry, cabinet member for children and young people, said: "Haringey is joint third out of 32 London boroughs. This is above the national figure of 86 per cent.

"By 2010 we want all Haringey youngsters to be able to access five hours of PE a week - two hours in curriculum time and three hours outside."

Fifty-eight Haringey schools achieved Active-mark or Sportsmark in 2007, awarded to schools where at least 90 per cent of pupils do at least two hours of PE a week.

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