New standards for schools will make clear that both boys and girls should be offered access to the same sports during PE lessons and extracurricular time.
A package of measures from the government will also see schools asked to offer at least two hours of curriculum time to PE.
And the Department for Education says it will provide support to schools on how to do this through the upcoming refresh of the School Sport Action Plan.
Schools that successfully deliver equal opportunities for girls and boys will be rewarded through the School Games Mark, the DfE said.
The move follows a campaign by the Football Association in the wake of the England women’s football team’s win in the Women’s Euro 2022 final.
Last year, after winning the European Championships, the England women’s football team wrote to Rishi Sunak - and his fellow Conservative leadership candidate at the time, Liz Truss - asking them to ensure that all girls have access to a minimum of two hours per week of PE.
Research last year by the Football Association found that just 63 per cent of schools in England offered equal football coaching to boys and girls.
And the Association of School and College Leaders also said after the research was released that it would be a “good idea” for the government to review guidance on what sporting activities schools should offer boys and girls.
The union welcomed the announcement today, but described it as “overdue”.
Geoff Barton, ASCL’s general secretary, also said there would have to be a “reality check” as school timetables were “crammed” with different expectations.
“We are also sure that the vast majority of schools already provide equal access to sport for boys and girls and that they strive to ensure that there are plenty of opportunities for PE and sport during the school week,” he said.
“There is a real need for a comprehensive curriculum review that slims down expectations and gives the right weighting to all these competing demands. In addition, school funding is under huge pressure, making it much more difficult to put on extracurricular activities such as sports clubs.
“We need a proper strategy and resources rather than piecemeal announcements and new targets.”
The DfE said the move was backed by confirmation of £600 million in funding over the next two academic years for the PE and Sport Premium and £22 million for the School Games Organiser network (SGO).
Education secretary Gillian Keegan added: “Today, on International Women’s Day, we are breaking down the barriers some children face to access sport and building on the Lionesses’ legacy to ensure girls have the same access to all their favourite sports as boys.”
