Youth Sport Trust report finds alarming results for girls’ activity

Only 64% of girls liked physical education (PE) in comparison to 86% of boys, the Youth Sport Trust Girls Active survey has found.

The survey has been running annually since 2016 and to celebrate International Day of the Girl [11 October] the YST has released new data.

According to the data, in both secondary and primary settings, the level of girls’ enjoyment of PE has dropped over the past six years, but the enjoyment level of boys has remained broadly consistent.

“The headlines from the recent Girls’ Active survey represent an urgent call to action to the Youth Sport Trust, and all organisations involved in the development and delivery of physical education and sport for young women and girls,” said Ali Oliver, CEO of the YST.

“Not only should this research raise alarm bells, but it is devastating for the physical and mental health of young women today. We must be absolutely committed to understanding the experiences of young women and girls and better at working with them to address the barriers they face.”

During the Covid pandemic, the mental health of girls deteriorated more quickly than that of boys, and the YST questions if the industry and wider public is doing enough to access the physical and mental wellbeing benefits that come from PE and physical activity.

Among the results from the current YST report, which received responses from more than 18,500 girls aged between seven and 18, it found that enjoyment levels are decreasing and the gap is particularly pronounced at secondary school where just 59% of girls say they enjoy PE.

Nearly two-thirds of all girls (64%) want to be more active in school but there are barriers that stop them taking part such as not being confident, having their period, being watched by others and worrying about how they look.

Having fun and being with friends are the strongest two motivations for all girls to take part in sport, physical activity and PE at school.

The YST Girls Active programme helps schools understand what motivates girls to take part, enabling teachers to work with girls through consultation and leadership to make the necessary changes to their PE, sport and physical activity provision to engage all girls in ways that appeal to them.

• For more information on the research including the full reports, please visit: https://www.youthsporttrust.org/news-insight/research/girls-active-national-reports