More than half of all English school pupils took part in at least three hours of sport a week, according to new research published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

The government's PE and Sport Survey 2008-09 has reported that schools are offering an average of 18.6 sports as part of their PE lessons, with yoga, circus skills and cheerleading increasing in popularity. Nearly all English schools offered football and dance during the academic year, while there has been an increase in institutions offering cycling (50 per cent), golf (42 per cent) and rugby league (34 per cent).

However, the study has revealed a fall in the number of schools providing hockey, fitness, canoeing and rugby union when compared with 2007-08, although longer-term trends have remained stable. The research has shown that 69 per cent of pupils took part in intra-school competition during the 2008-09 academic year, but only 28 per cent were said to be regularly doing so.

According to the DCSF, the report has "set a new benchmark" for ensuring that schools offer at least five hours of sport each week as part of proposed legislation outlined in a white paper, which was published in June. Iain Wright, minister for children, schools and families, said: "Today we are raising the bar on youth sport in this country in the run-up to the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.

"We are aiming high for our young people because they deserve nothing less - setting our sights on 5 hours sport each week. For the first time ever a government is willing to legislate to make this a reality for all young people." Culture secretary Ben Bradshaw added: "Thanks to billions of pounds of Government funding in the last decade, record numbers of pupils are playing sport, competitive sport is on the rise, and we have a wealth of state-of-the-art sports facilities."

"Our challenge now is to make the dream of five hours of sport for every child every week a reality. With the help of the dedicated sports professionals working on the ground, we are poised to take school sport to new heights."