Two-thirds of primary school children lack basic fitness
Fit For Sport studied 10,000 pupils aged between five and eleven, and discovered that 67 per cent were unable to reach targets in jumping, running and throwing, with 24 per cent falling ‘significantly’ below the recommended level. Researchers found that just 36 per cent of five to seven year olds were at an adequate level of fitness, compared with 32 per cent of those aged eight to nine and 33 per cent for children aged in their final year of primary education.
Official guidelines recommend that children spend an hour a day being physically active – yet only 21 per cent of boys and 16 per cent of girls achieve this.The assessments contained basic fitness tests in stamina, agility, coordination and cardiovascular endurance, which provide a good indication of physical literacy. The poorest results were achieved in cardiovascular endurance.
Fit For Sport founder Dean Horridge has commented how the results are a further indication that fitness among children is a serious cause for concern, and proposed that parents and schools must do more to improve children’s activity levels.
Horridge said: "Parents know how well their children perform academically, but they often have no idea how fit their kids are. Physical inactivity is a ticking time bomb for the UK's health. Both parents and schools must make sure that children are spending enough time being active to improve their fitness and health levels now, and set them off on a journey to an active life."
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