While David Cameron’s comments, particularly on education, frequently leave me puzzled, this time it was the turn of Robin Widdowson in your letters section last week (“When winning just isn’t good enough”, 26 October). His assertion that the success of Team GB at London 2012 was reason enough not to change the PE curriculum was laughable. While the Conservatives’ tinkering fills me with trepidation, to credit the PE curriculum with the 2012 medal haul is missing a large pound sign-shaped factor from the equation. The millions that the government invested in grass-roots clubs and elite performance pathways in the lead-up to London 2012 was the main factor in the Games’ success. The fact that people expect school PE to create these athletes shows a misunderstanding of the system. Without greater investment in PE facilities and staff, we cannot hope to do more than give a light-touch introduction to sports. Unless schools are going to be funded in the same way as elite performance pathways, allow us to get on with educating pupils so that they can lead a healthy, active lifestyle and leave the elite coaching to those who have the appropriate time and resources.

Alex Fitzpatrick, Temple Moor High School, Leeds.