Physical education can help schools to encourage desirable values and attitudes among pupils, Nick Tate, chief executive of the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority said yesterday.
Many aspects of PE and sport could develop self-confidence, self-esteem, teamwork, co-operation and a sense of responsibility, he told a SCAA conference on PE and the health of the nation.
Dr Tate admitted that the original National Curriculum Council guidance on health education meant that it could easily be squeezed out of the curriculum and said that health education should be given some attention in any future national curriculum revision.