Girls feel less confident in PE as they get older, survey finds

New research has suggested that girls' confidence and enjoyment in physical activity plummets as puberty begins.

Released by children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust, the research highlighted the crisis of confidence girls face when they hit puberty, and the increasing impact of this on their physical activity levels and wellbeing throughout their teenage years and into adulthood.

Most girls in the UK begin their period at around 12 years of age, the age where their confidence to take part in and enjoyment of PE decline rapidly.

Meanwhile the same survey has shown boys' experiences and attitudes remain relatively consistent across all age groups.

The Youth Sport Trust Girls Active survey is funded by Sport England National Lottery Funding and has been running since 2016, and this year received responses from more than 15,000 girls and boys aged between seven and 18. 

Key findings from this year’s survey showed 86 per cent of girls aged seven to eight enjoy PE, compared to 56 per cent of girls aged 14 to 15.
Forty six per cent of girls aged 14 to 15 report a lack of confidence stops them being physically active compared to 26 per cent of girls aged seven to eight.

PE kit continues to be a contentious issue for girls, particularly around the onset of puberty. Just 23 per cent of girls aged 14 to 15 feel confident in their PE kit, in contrast to 65 per cent of girls aged seven to eight.

Alongside more flexible kit options, girls also want more empathy and support from teachers, coaches and peers to encourage them to continue participating. 

Around 40 per cent of girls aged 11 and over do not feel comfortable at all talking to their PE teacher about their period, despite the impact it is having on their confidence to participate. 

The Youth Sport Trust’s Girls Active programme aims to tackle the barriers girls experience and helps to build a movement of girls and young women in primary and secondary schools, empowering them to take positive action through influencing, leading, and inspiring their peers. 

Ali Oliver MBE, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust said: "Sadly we are not currently getting it right for girls in the UK when it comes to providing positive experiences of PE, Sport and Play in schools.

"We must proactively support girls through puberty, listening to and responding to their needs if we are to build their confidence and capability. Without this support, we know their experiences at school can alienate them from sport and physical activity for life. For too long, society has pressured girls to minimise the effects of puberty and ‘keep calm and carry on’, an attitude which can instil a deep sense of shame, with consequences for how they feel about physical activity and sport."

She added: "The Girls Active programme which has been developed and evolved over two decades offers a blueprint for all schools and we are constantly seeking new partners and funders to help extend the reach of the programme.”