Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that young girls continue to engage in sport from primary school to senior school.

The government is committed to breaking down barriers to accessing sport and physical activity for children and young people, including girls. We set out our intention to support more children to be active by protecting time for physical education (PE) in schools and working across government to support the role grassroots clubs play in expanding access to sport and physical activity.

The School Games Mark, funded by the government and managed by the Youth Sport Trust, has introduced mandatory equality criteria for PE, school sport and physical activity participation for the 2024/25 academic year. Schools can review their provision and test whether they are overcoming barriers girls and boys may face and ensure they are listening to the voice of the pupils as part of their planning and delivery. Best practice from the School Games Mark will be shared with all schools to enhance girls' equal access to sport.

Schools are also supported to increase girls’ engagement in sport through programmes delivered by sector organisations, such as the Football Association’s ‘Barclays Girls’ Football School Partnerships programme and Sport England’s online ‘Studio You’ programme.