Lionesses’ legacy at risk as school PE fails girls, experts warn

Twelve years of Tory government have had a disastrous impact on girls’ sport in schools, experts have said, warning that last weekend’s women’s Euro victory will be squandered unless drastic action is taken.

In the past 10 years, 42,000 hours of PE lessons have been lost in secondaries – with girls the most affected – and the situation is getting worse, according to the Youth Sport Trust.

Calling for a “root and branch review” of how PE is taught, experts told the Observer the subject is being “marginalised” and the gender gap is already evident by the age of seven – when girls are a year behind boys on “physical literacy”, the development of basic movement and sport skills. By the time they start secondary at 11, the gap is even wider. Girls’ activity also varies along racial lines.

The intervention comes a week after the England women’s football team made history to become European champions, beating eight-time holders Germany in extra-time.

In the days since, the government refused to commit to equal access to football in schools, where the sport is only available to 63% of girls.

The Lionesses responded with an open letter to Conservative leadership contenders Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, calling on them to offer football to all girls, guarantee a minimum two hours a week of PE and to invest in female PE teachers so that “young girls can flourish”.

Goalkeeper Mary Earps said football “absolutely should be on the curriculum” to ensure girls have access.

Labour accused the Tories of “failing our children” and “capping” the Lionesses’ ambition to inspire a generation of young girls.

Wilson Frimpong, who is joint network manager of the PE and Schools Sports Network in Southwark, which works with about 100 schools, said