State pupils missing out on competitive sport says Ofsted

Too many state-school pupils are denied the chance to take part in competitive sport by head teachers who treat it as an "optional extra", says Ofsted.

Schools where pupils lack opportunities to excel in sport tend to have worse academic results, says a report from the watchdog.

It explores why so many top athletes are from private schools.

The National Union of Teachers said Ofsted's comparison between state and private school sport was "ridiculous".

The NUT's deputy general secretary, Kevin Courtney, said: "State schools have neither the same facilities nor time and space in the curriculum for sport as independent schools.

Gillian Hargreaves reports.