According to a new study published by the Department for Education,more schools are offering pupils sports such as cheerleading, yoga and boxing in PE lessons, while participation in many traditional team games has declined.

Martial arts and mountaineering are also on the up, while the number of schools where hockey, netball and rugby union are played is dropping.

Other sports that have seen strong growth in schools are golf, cycling, badminton, table tennis, canoeing and archery.

Girls were more likely to be offered dance, gymnastics, netball and hockey lessons, while boys were more likely to be offered cricket, basketball, rugby union and golf

Children’s Minister Tim Loughton said participation in competitive sport was “disappointingly low” although the yearly figures did show more pupils doing two hours of PE each week, rising from 77% last year to 82% this year.

Source: Department for Education
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