Sports for schools - a reality check

So, the Olympics is over, and as a result of our resounding success this year, the outcry for more great Olympians to come out of our country has been at the forefront of the papers.

Boris Johnson reckons we need to get more PE in state schools - suggesting two hours per day minimum - like the good old days when he studied at Eton.

Now let's just think about this. Two hours per day?! Two hours of being forced to run around outside in the miserable weather, and even more awkward time spent in the smelly communal changing rooms. And how on Earth would we find the time to cram in all the lessons in preparation for our GCSEs? Also, Boris Johnson is hardly a shining beacon of health - should we be taking his advice?

Now, you are probably thinking that I'm being pessimistic about more sports in schools because I'm not good at sport. And you would be right. My school diaries were peppered with forged parental notes (why the teachers never questioned their childish handwriting is slightly worrying) explaining why I wouldn't be able to participate in PE that day.

It's not that I didn't try to begin with - every kid would love to be the best at sport - it's an instant popularity boost. It's just that some people are, ahem, not that good at the hand-eye coordination thing. Solo sports, such as swimming, trampolining, gymnastics even - yes, happy with all of those. Team sports, with the added pressure of thirty classmates screaming at you to hit a ball - not so happy.

I think that whilst enjoying such a fantastic Olympics, and the success of so many British athletes, we may have got a little swept away with our obsession of producing top athletes.

Yes, it's important to have PE at schools, to promote general fitness levels and for talent to be nurtured - and I agree that a certain amount of investment is needed here. However, there is only a small margin of those talented individuals that get to a professional level where they are paid a good wage, getting the sponsorship they require - and only a tiny percentage of those can get to the point where they compete in the Olympics. It's not always a viable career choice.  

Let's not forget that we are coming out of a recession, with high rates of unemployment - our priority should be to focus on school-leavers and graduates gaining employability skills and work experience, and also to recover our economy so that the jobs are there for those who have worked hard for them.