For girls who are able to attend school, physical education is thus of central importance. Because of its emphasis on developmentally appropriate and carefully sequenced physical activities, physical education makes a unique contribution to their education in ways that ad hoc physical activity, manual work and informal leisure participation cannot. Widespread, regular, beneficial and sustainable participation by girls in physical education is only possible, however, when programmes are well designed, appropriate to specific groups of girls, led by trained and competent teachers, and are well resourced.