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Major Changes to PE and School Sport Funding
The Department for Education has announced a significant reform to PE and school sport funding that will have a major impact on school budgets, planning, and financial reporting from 2026 onwards.
For more than a decade, the Primary PE and Sport Premium has provided ring-fenced funding to support the development of PE, physical activity, and school sport. While this funding has been a familiar part of school budgets, annual confirmation has often been received late, creating uncertainty for financial planning.
That funding model is now set to change.
What's Changing?
The Primary PE and Sport Premium Is Ending
The current £320 million Primary PE and Sport Premium will come to an end at the close of the 2025/26 academic year. Schools will no longer receive direct PE Premium funding through this programme.
A New National Funding Model
From Spring 2027, PE and school sport funding will be delivered through a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, backed by £580 million of national investment.
Under the new model:
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Direct funding allocations to schools will end.
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Support will be delivered through a nationally coordinated network of local partnerships.
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The programme will support primary, secondary, and special schools.
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Provision will be commissioned centrally through a national delivery partner and local networks.
What This Means for Schools
This represents a fundamental shift in the way PE and school sport is funded. Rather than receiving direct funding to commission their own provision, schools will access support through the new partnership network.
As further details emerge, schools will need to review their PE and sport provision, budgeting, and long-term planning to ensure they are well prepared for the transition.
2025–2026 Funding
Our school received PE and Sport Premium funding to enhance the quality of physical education, school sport, and physical activity for all pupils. We used this funding to improve teaching and learning in PE, provide a wider range of sporting opportunities, develop staff expertise, and encourage healthy, active lifestyles.
The funding was used to:
- Improve the quality of PE lessons through staff training and specialist support.
- Provide a broader range of sports and physical activities for pupils.
- Increase participation in competitive sport and inter-school events.
- Purchase and maintain equipment to support high-quality PE and active play.
- Develop pupils’ physical skills, confidence, and enjoyment of sport.
- Promote physical activity and wellbeing throughout the school day.
We reviewed the impact of our spending to ensure the funding benefited all pupils and supported long-term improvements in PE and sport provision.