Background: Attitudes towards physical activity are largely developed during childhood meaning that school physical education classes can have a strong influence.
Methods: National level data of school pupils (n = 21 515) in England were analysed to examine the association between school provision of physical education with sex, age, geographic and socioeconomic factors.
Results: Children attending independent schools had more scheduled physical education time (P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval (CI) 18 to 30 extra min per week). This association was true for males (P = 0.024); schools located in the South (P < 0.001; 95% CI 2 to 3) and rural areas (P < 0.001; 95% CI 3 to 5); or with a higher percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals (P < 0.001; 95% CI 3 to 4). Schools in more affluent areas (P < 0.001; 95% CI -1 to -2) and those with lower percentages of pupils from ethnic minorities (P < 0.001; 95% CI -1 to -2) also had higher minutes of physical education provision per week. Regarding age, 93% of schools met the guidelines in Years 1-9; only 45% did in Years 10-13.
Conclusion: Differences in physical education were found in relation to school type, socioeconomic status and geographical factors. Age-related differences in compliance with guidelines are of concern; ways to increase provision for older children should be investigated.
Keywords: England; age; deprivation; physical education provision; school type; sex.
© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.