A redesigned national approach and major investment seek to ensure every child has access to high-quality PE and sport regardless of background
The government has announced a major restructuring of how school sport is supported, committing more than £1 billion over the next three years to expand provision and tackle uneven access. Central to the plan is the creation of the PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, a national system designed to deliver expert coaching, stronger school-club links and tailored help to both primary and secondary schools.
The initiative aims to move away from the previous one-size-fits-all funding model and bring consistent sporting expertise into classrooms and playgrounds so that physical activity becomes a routine part of childhood across the country.
The investment package includes a core allocation of £580 million for the new Partnerships Network, which is planned to be fully operational from Spring 2027.
In addition, the plan channels almost £200 million towards upgrading school sports facilities, making sites more inclusive for pupils with SEND and purchasing specialist equipment. To ease the transition, primary schools will also receive a one-off £100 million payment from the existing PE funding stream.
These moves respond to concerns that fewer than half of young people currently meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity and that participation gaps persist for girls, children with SEND and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Why the change is being made
The government frames the new model as part of a broader agenda to give children a richer school experience, where sport, music and the arts complement academic learning. Education leaders emphasise that school sport delivers more than physical benefits: it builds confidence, a sense of belonging and improved mental wellbeing, qualities that support long-term life chances. The shift also responds to evidence that earlier partnership schemes improved access and participation: Ofsted previously noted that school-club links and targeted support were effective at increasing activity when partnerships were in place. By redesigning how support is delivered, ministers say the aim is to ensure equitable opportunities no matter where a child lives or what challenges they face.
How the new model will operate
Delivery will be coordinated through a national delivery partner working with national governing bodies to provide a mix of universal and targeted interventions. The universal offer will give every school access to online training and resources on demand, while the targeted support element is designed to respond to local need. This blended approach is intended to combine scalable tools with bespoke services so that schools with specific barriers—such as low participation among girls or limited swimming provision—receive direct, expert help.
Targeted support in practice
Targeted measures could include providing quality-assured coaches into schools, delivering top-up swimming lessons, expanding extra-curricular clubs and investing in adaptive equipment for pupils with SEND. A priority will be closing the activity gap between different groups of pupils by directing resources where they will have most impact. Local partnerships will be able to identify schools that need the greatest support and coordinate work with community clubs, creating clearer pathways from school sport into local teams and leisure activities.
Universal offer and capacity building
The universal strand will focus on scalable training, online curriculum resources and practical guidance to help teachers deliver high-quality PE lessons. Making on-demand training widely available aims to raise baselines of expertise in every setting so that everyday lessons, breaktimes and extracurricular sessions more reliably promote active habits. By combining remote tools with on-the-ground coaches and club connections, the network seeks to make physical activity part of daily school life rather than an occasional extra.
Reactions and wider policy context
National organisations welcomed the funding, highlighting the potential to create long-lasting benefits for children and communities. Sport England stressed that improved facilities and targeted programmes can help young people build lifelong active habits and address inequalities in access to sport. The Football Foundation noted the real-world impact that properly funded pitches and sports spaces have on both pupils and neighbourhoods and said the extra investment could unlock further community-focused projects. The announcement also links with other government health measures—such as expanding free school meals, rolling out breakfast clubs and tightening rules around junk food promotion—under a wider mission to raise the healthiest generation of children.
