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Seldon calls for physical training in schools

Posted on 28th July 2008

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The head of a prestigious independent school has called for physical training to be reintroduced to schools in a bid to help combat the rise in childhood obesity.

According to master of Wellington College Anthony Seldon, 20 minutes of physical exercise three times a week, as takes place in China, should be implemented for all pupils in Britain from year one.

Unlike the physical education (PE) currently occurring in schools, physical training sees all children taking part in equal measure, something that generally does not occur with normal sporting activities, Mr Seldon argues in the Times Educational Supplement.

He suggests that this practice would help instil discipline in children, as well as offering the obvious health benefits.

"Being forced to take part in exercises three times a week in long lines … will help to ingrain respect for authority as well as a sense of belonging to one community", he states.

Figures acquired by the Liberal Democrats last month suggest that hundreds of thousands of England's pupils are not completing the government's target of two hours of PE a week.
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