'Too many children are missing out': Sport Wales publishes biggest-ever School Sport Survey

Children at Wales' most deprived schools are far less likely to play organised sport regularly than those at the least deprived, as Sport Wales chief executive Brian Davies warns that "too many children are missing out".

Sport Wales' biggest-ever School Sport Survey heard from more than 122,000 pupils in years 3 to 11. It found that 51% of pupils at the least deprived schools took part in organised sport outside lessons three or more times a week, compared with 35% at the most deprived. That gap has widened at every survey since 2018.

Overall, 43% took part three or more times a week, up three percentage points on 2022. But the proportion taking part less than once a week also rose, to 38%. Boys (47%) were more likely to take part regularly than girls (39%), as were pupils without a disability (45%) compared with those with one (39%).

Davies described the findings as a "once in a generation opportunity" as the Welsh Government develops its new Culture and Sport Strategy, calling for action across government and other sectors to remove barriers to participation.

For grassroots clubs, the results also show how much children value community sport. Some 55% enjoyed sport at community clubs "a lot", ahead of PE lessons (51%) and school sport clubs (31%). More than half took part at a community club at least once a week last year.

The appetite to try something new is strong: 84% named at least one sport they don't currently play but would like to try. Having fun mattered to 80% and being with friends to 61%, compared with 30% who selected winning.

With 12% saying they would do more sport if it cost less or they had the kit they needed, the findings give clubs useful pointers: affordable opportunities to try new sports, built around fun and friendship.

The full report is available from Sport Wales.