Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Third Report - Health barriers for girls and women in sport
Women and Equalities Committee
HC 130
Published 5 March 2024
Government response
Fourth Special Report - Health barriers for girls and women in sport: Government and Sport England responses to the Committee’s Third Report · published 17 May 2024
Recommendations & Conclusions
2
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 33
Inadequate and late delivery of mandatory menstrual cycle education impacts girls' PE participation.
Conclusion
Key anxieties for girls include concerns around periods, yet education on the menstrual cycle, despite being mandatory, is only being delivered in half of schools. It is shocking that around 50% of schools are disregarding a vital, and mandatory, element …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation but deflected by responding solely on the importance of offering a wide choice of PE kit and sports bras for girls, including elite athletes, without addressing the core issue of inadequate menstrual cycle education.
Government Equalities Office
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3
Recommendation
Deferred
Para 34
Urgently review and improve girls' health and menstrual cycle education quality and timeliness.
Recommendation
The Department for Education must urgently review the quality and timeliness of education on girls’ health and physiology, including the effects of puberty, the menstrual cycle, and periods in the context of PE and school sport. Whether part of PE …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially accepted the recommendation but deflected by focusing on existing physical activity campaigns, funding for PE and sport facilities, and the National Physical Activity Taskforce, without addressing the specific call to review and improve the quality and timeliness of girls' health and physiology education or teacher training.
Government Equalities Office
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5
Recommendation
Deferred
Para 36
Launch "This Girl Can" campaign for parents and update School Sport Action Plan targets.
Recommendation
We recommend Sport England launch a new strand of the “This Girl Can” campaign aimed at parents, tackling early years gender stereotypes around physical activity and sport. This should include a specific focus on the positive role fathers can play …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation but states decisions on Sport England's priorities are independent. While it will focus the next phase of 'This Girl Can' on women aged 50 and over, this differs from the recommended focus on parents and early years, and it does not commit to rolling out 'Studio You' or updating the DfE action plan.
Government Equalities Office
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7
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 44
Government's 'Get Active' strategy remains inadequate for addressing midlife women's health barriers.
Conclusion
Women in midlife face specific health-related barriers to participation, including but not limited to the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. These occur after many have experienced barriers at earlier life stages, including in early years and at school during puberty. …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation to rectify strategy shortcomings but believes it can be achieved through the existing National Physical Activity Taskforce and the newly established Board of Women’s Sport, rather than committing to specific updates or rectifications of its 'Get Active' strategy itself.
Government Equalities Office
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8
Recommendation
Deferred
Para 45
Prioritise another 'This Girl Can' campaign phase focused on inspiring women in midlife.
Recommendation
We recommend Sport England prioritise another phase of the “This Girl Can” campaign focused on women in midlife, showing real life examples of women in the 40- to 60-year-old age group participating in a wide range of sports and physical …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation but describes unrelated ongoing work by Sport England and other bodies focused on women in coaching and instructor training, not on launching a new phase of 'This Girl Can' specifically for women in midlife as recommended.
Government Equalities Office
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9
Recommendation
Deferred
Update DCMS 'Get Active' strategy with tailored interventions and targets for midlife women.
Recommendation
We recommend the DCMS update its “Get Active” strategy for the future of sport and physical activity in relation to women in midlife. It should work with organisations including Women in Sport and The Well HQ to include an analysis …
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Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation to update its 'Get Active' strategy for women in midlife but provides a response entirely unrelated, detailing Sport England's actions regarding Swim England's safeguarding and regulatory improvements.
Government Equalities Office
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11
Conclusion
Deferred
Para 77
Government's current response to sportswomen's health issues lacks a coordinated cross-sector approach.
Conclusion
While there are positive signs of change in the sports and exercise research sector, a more concerted and coordinated, cross-sector approach is required to achieve equality of attention to health and physiology-related issues affecting sportswomen, including those arising from kit …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation but largely responds by detailing employment rights, maternity leave, and pay for sportswomen, which is unrelated to the call for a more coordinated cross-sector approach for health, physiology, and kit issues.
Government Equalities Office
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