The state of PE is fit and healthy in the region's primary schools, it was claimed today, despite increasing pressures from the Government's drive to improve standards in the "three Rs".

According to a new survey, less PE is being taught in primary schools because of the introduction of the new national literacy strategy.

The survey, by Speednet, the Sport and Physical Education Network, found that a third of primary schools had reduced the time for PE during the last school year because of timetable pressure.

The fear was that PE could be cut back even more when the numeracy strategy was introduced in September.

Professor Margaret Talbot, convenor of Speednet and head of sport at Leeds Metropolitan University, said: "Children of this age need physical education and research shows that their academic work improves when they get it regularly."

But Richard Lohan, principal education adviser at North Yorkshire County Council, said the picture was different locally.

"While there has been a feeling that the primary curriculum has been a bit overloaded, there is not really a feeling that PE is in demise," he said.

"PE is something that schools have tended to try and preserve."

He said the council had drawn up guidance for schools for the next year, until the introduction of the new national curriculum in September 2000.

This told schools to aim for one and a half hours of PE per week for infant children and two hours for junior children.

York PE and sport development officer Jo Gilliland said survey's findings were a "major concern".

She said: "There are huge amounts of time pressure, not just on PE, but on everything.

"But primary schools in York are required to deliver a balanced programme of PE and it is still a key part of the curriculum. Our target is that schools will be delivering two hours of PE a week."

She said activities included games, gymnastics, dance, outdoor activities, athletics and swimming.

"For a number of schools, for varying reasons, that it not possible. What we also try and do is if schools are unable to deliver that within the curriculum, is to ensure there are various other activities after school."

Both York and North Yorkshire have been raising the profile of PE, and providing equipment and training to schools, through National Lottery-funded schemes.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.