Providing physical education classes beyond the traditional team sports can improve girls' level of involvement in physical activity later in life, according to the Office for Standard in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted).

The report, called Physical Education in Schools 2005/08: Working towards 2012 revealed that girls aged 16 - 24 are only half as active as boys once they leave school. Less than 3 per cent of women play competitive team sports and 23 per cent of women say that school PE put them off sport for life. Sue Tibballs, chief executive of Women Sport and Fitness Foundation, said: "It's important that the different needs, likes and dislikes of girls and boys are met during PE lessons if we're going to encourage more to take part. Offering alternatives to traditional school sport – for instance dance, which combines movement and music and is done in very social environment – can have a positive impact on participation."

The report, which evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of physical activity in schools, said that despite noted improvements in the standards of PE offering and teaching, it has yet to have sufficient impact on tackling the health issue of childhood obesity.