Recent research undertaken by the Nuffield Foundation shows that participating in organised sports and joining after school clubs can help to improve the academic performance and social skills of primary school children. 

The study of 6,400 children in England found that those who take part in organised sports and physical activities at the ages of 5, 7 and 11 are almost one and a half times more likely to reach a higher than expected level in their Key Stage 2 (KS2) maths test at the age of 11. 

Disadvantaged children who attend after-school clubs also fare better than their peers who do not take part. 

The researchers also discovered that children who participate in organised sports and physical activities at any time during primary school have better social, emotional and behavioural skills than those who do not take part. 

This is also the case for disadvantaged children who attend an after-school club during primary school, compared with other disadvantaged children who had never joined one.