The government wants children to do more sport

The government says school sport partnerships have led to children spending more time on sport both in school and in clubs afterwards.

A poll suggests 62% of pupils at schools in the scheme spend at least two hours a week on PE, rising to 80% among 11 to 13 year olds.

Among five to seven year olds the average was one and a half hours.

The partnerships, introduced in September 2000, are being expanded.

So far bout 8,000 schools in England - one in three - are involved in 200 partnerships, where they team up with other schools and local sports clubs to boost sport for pupils.

MOST POPULAR SCHOOL SPORTS Football: 97% offered it Dance: 94% Athletics: 90% Netball: 84% Rugby: 79%

A total of 6,500 took part in the survey, which is the biggest ever made of school sports.

The study suggests that schools in the most established partnerships devote more time from the curriculum to sport than those which have recently joined the scheme.

Figures rose from 96 minutes per week from schools which have just joined the scheme, to 107 minutes.

The survey suggests each school provides an average of more than 14 different sports, including football, swimming, basketball, canoeing and badminton.

Researchers say the schools which have been involved in the partnership scheme the longest offer more sports (average of 16) than those which have just joined (average of 13).

Competitive sport is alive and well in our schools and the prospects for future Wilkinsons and Beckhams are bright Charles Clarke, Education Secretary

Almost all (96%) schools held at least one sports day last year.

The sports most likely to be offered at school are football (97%), dance (94%), athletics (90%), cricket (85%) , netball (84%) and rugby (79%).

More unusual sports being offered include cycling (4%), mountaineering (4%) and martial arts (6%).

Education Secretary Charles Clarke said: "Competitive sport is alive and well in our schools and the prospects for future Wilkinsons and Beckhams are bright.

"Exercise is essential for healthy minds and healthy bodies.

"School sport partnerships are bringing new sport opportunities to over two million pupils and are set to encompass many more schools in the next two years."

The government has set a target that, by 2006, three quarters of pupils will be spending at least two hours on PE and school sport in the curriculum and after school.

By September 2006, it wants to have 400 partnerships in place.