Sport England said it is “unacceptable” more than half of English children did not exercise enough last year, and called on the Government to take action.

Figures from the organisation’s annual Active Lives Children and Young People Survey, which was completed by nearly 122,500 children in school years 1-11, show 48 per cent of children met the guidance of exercising for an average of 60 minutes or more every day in the 2023-24 academic year.

This was up two per cent from the previous year and from 2018-19 before the pandemic.

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In Oxford, 44 per cent of the 572 respondents met the exercising guidelines and 31 per cent did less than an average of 30 minutes of activity a day.

Nationally, 23 per cent of children were judged as “fairly active”, meaning they didn’t reach an average of 60 minutes a day this year, and 30 per cent did less than an average of 30 minutes a day.

Tim Hollingsworth, chief executive of Sport England, said successive lockdowns and a lack of activities during the pandemic had a “fundamental impact” on children and young people’s negative attitude towards sport.

Oxford United in the Community players (Image: Photo: Oxford United in the Community) He added: “An active early life improves a child’s physical, mental and social health, so it’s unacceptable that fewer than half of children and young people are meeting the chief medical officers’ guidelines.

“All this points to the absolute need to address these problems head on.

“The challenge is huge – with issues like rising obesity levels and cost-of-living damaging children’s health prospects too – but so is the opportunity.

“An active generation is critical to the Government’s missions because active children turn into active adults, helping our NHS and improving the long-term health and wealth of our country.”

Mr Hollingsworth urged the Government to directly address the lack of activity among children and young people across the country.

Younger children in years one and two are more likely to meet the guidelines than their older peers.

Additionally, gender, ethnicity, family affluence and the presence of a disability or long-term condition also affect activity levels.

Sports minister Stephanie Peacock said: “Sport is essential in allowing children and young people to develop healthy and positive attitudes for life.

“Today’s data shows that there is more work to do. This Government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity to ensure that every young person can lead a healthy and active life.”

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