In a series of interviews, David Cameron refused to restore funding for school sport partnerships, which linked state pupils with professional coaches, saying schools were already benefiting from a £1 billion cash injection over four years.

Defending the decision to scrap the targets, he said, “I see it with my own children ... because you know, the two hours that is laid down is often met through sort of Indian dancing classes. Now, I’ve got nothing against Indian dancing classes but that’s not really sport.”