Schools fail to hit PE targets

Schools are so short of funding that many are not meeting minimum guidelines for PE.

Half of schools devote between one and two hours a week to games lessons. Yet two hours is the minimum recommended and there have been calls for it to be raised to three.

The findings are contained in a report commissioned as part of the Evening Standard and EDF Energy Sport for Schools campaign which is providing schools in London and the South-East with sports equipment.

Ian Campbell, a GP and president of the National Obesity Forum, said: "Physical activity is very important, not just for preventing obesity but for all-round good health."