PE was taken very seriously in secondary moderns. Unlike today, exercise sessions were conducted almost daily, including command-type drills, climbing ropes, vaulting, wall bars and circuit training. Dance and movement also began to appear in this era. In short, forty years ago, children were incredibly fit.

PE wasn't the only exercise the pupils of a 1960s secondary modern were expected to take part in, however – the girls also did activities like country dancing and the boys indulged in a spot of wrestling ... how will their modern-day counterparts cope?

Job prospects: Boys – Army, Navy, Air Force

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In marked contrast to their 1960s counterparts, today's school pupil's aren't very fit at all and some don't even manage two hour's exercise in a week. Recent concerns over rising levels of inactivity and obesity in the nation's children has led to a government initiative, the School Sports Partnerships, in which over 250 secondary schools take part.

In these schools, 80% of children do two or more hours of exercise weekly, compared to 62% in schools which are not part of the scheme.

PE now includes athletics, games, dance, gymnastics, outdoor and adventure sports and swimming. The GCSE PE exam involves both physical activity and written work.

Job prospects: Sports management, leisure industry, physiotherapist, fitness coach