and trampolining are replacing competitive sports, with less than a third of students now playing

team games.

Team games such as rugby union and hockey, according to a report in The Independent, are

declining in popularity as students turn to 'fun' sports such as juggling, trampolining,

skateboarding and angling, a major Government survey has shown.

According to the study, 72% of students are failing to play regularly in competitive sporting

fixtures at school; and 81% do not regularly compete against students from other schools.

Some schools have no choice but to offer alternative sports because they lack playing fields and

other facilities for competitive games, education watchdog Ofsted found.

The survey also found that just 50% of students got three hours a week of PE and after-school

school sport, which Ofsted said was not making a dent on 'frightening' childhood obesity rates.

Children’s Minister Iain Wright said in a statement: "Thanks to our national PE and Sport Strategy

for Young People and world-class investment, school and youth sport has never been so well funded

or enjoyed by young people." Latest figures show about One third of children under 16 in England are thought to be overweight

or obese.