A Pupil’s View on the Place of Sport in Schools

           From a young age, I detested sports and exercise. I have even gone as far, as to suggest, on numerous occasions the abolition of P.E. from my school. I know that I am not alone in my hatred of sport and exercise. However over the last few years, as my education has further developed, the awareness of significant health and psychological benefits of sports have changed my viewpoint on sports. I still believe that compulsory sports isn't necessarily a good thing; however I am now a great believer in a compulsory exercise regime, commonly know an physical conditioning.

           Sporting activities offer a whole wealth of psychological and practical benefits to young children, such as anger management, stress relief, better co-ordination, the ability to work together in a team, anxiety and most importantly good and constant mental stimulation. The numerous physical health benefits of sports such as weight management and improved posture, reduces the risk of heart disease and combats the ever increasing effect that saturated fats in our diet, which in turn lead to increase in cholesterol, triglycerides in the blood, and visceral fat in our abdominal areas.

        I believe that compulsory sporting activities lose their health benefits after Year 9, as sporting within the year becomes more competitive. Those who aren't as good or do not enjoy the sport start to lose their interest, resulting in very little physical activity going on in those lessons. In Year 9, studies into healthy lifestyles become more in-depth, so students understand the serious health risks and consequences of  modern day cuisine combined with a sedentary lifestyle. Most commonly and importantly this leads to the risk of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. These build around the heart and along arteries, can cause heart disease and eventually heart failure.

        Although medicines are available to control these various types of fats (Statins), they too come with their own, additional health complications.

       As students begin to recognise these risks, they want to engage in physical conditioning rather than compulsory sports, as I myself do. These students, would gain greater physical health benefits from a single P.E. lesson as they will be constantly involved in a form of exercise be it running laps skipping.  Although students may not have enthusiasm in completing these physical activities they will be tackling heath issues; furthermore, reducing the country's child obesity rate (28%) and encouraging them to keep up this regime into the future.

      I cannot stress enough, how important education is in securing a healthier population. An education that allows the student to understand the composition of our current diet and the health risk of particular aspects, such as saturated fats is essential. This will give students a realisation as to the importance of exercise and, in some cases, a shocking realisation that will prompt and push the student to act on the situation.

     This is why I strongly believe that from Year 9 onwards, sporting activities should be made optional and exercise or physical conditioning should be made compulsory. It will allow students to engage in these regimes and make changes to their, diet, lives  and physical well being before public examinations take over their school curriculum and spare time.

Kishan Patel - St. Edmund's College Nr. Ware