Schools 'spending less on sport'

All schools in Kent have a member of staff dedicated to PE

A GP has called for more investment in sport in Kent's schools after it was revealed some are spending as little as £1 per pupil on PE equipment.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act showed there was a big fluctuation in spending levels at secondary schools in Kent and Medway.

BBC Radio Kent found during the last financial year items bought ranged from hockey sticks to rowing machines.

Dr Julian Spinks, a GP based in Strood, described the figures as "a scandal".

He said it was recommended that children should be completing between 30 minutes and an hour of exercise a day.

Activity has got to be fun for young people

Dannie O'Donovan, Kent County Council

"The money spent on children when they are small on actually getting them to enjoy and start exercising will be paid back enormously later on," Dr Spinks said.

"It's going to cost the country and the county of Kent an awful lot more to look after obese people and people with illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease."

One of the biggest investments in the county was made by the Mascalls School, in Paddock Wood, which spent more than £15,000 last year on PE equipment.

The school which spent the least per pupil was the Northfleet School for Girls.

But head teacher Julie Wilson said the school still believed students needed to spend a great deal of time engaged in physical activity.

'Enthusiastic teachers'

"We have lots and lots of lunchtime activities where we have equipment available for the students to be able to pick up and do any kind of activity they want," she said.

Kent County Council is on a drive to get all children playing sport in the run up to 2012, and said all schools in Kent now had a member of staff dedicated to PE.

Dannie O'Donovan, strategic officer for school sport and PE, said it was not all about cash and figures did not always relate to what was actually going on in schools.

"I think what's more important than just looking at the equipment is the staffing issues, because activity has got to be fun for young people," he said.

"The only way that it's going to be fun is if you've got really enthusiastic people to provide those opportunities."