The government is committed to ensuring every child can access high-quality physical education (PE) and school sport by removing barriers to participation. As part of our curriculum reforms, work is underway to develop a new curriculum and assessment system that is ambitious and accessible for every child, focused rich in knowledge and in skills. Following the Curriculum and Assessment Review, we have outlined our commitment to revisit the activity list for PE GCSE, AS and A levels to ensure the list is inclusive to all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A revised PE national curriculum is expected in spring 2027, with first teaching from 2028.

To support these ambitions, the government has committed more than £1 billion to school sport over the next three years, including £580 million for a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, investment in sports facilities and transitional support for primary schools. This network will build on existing initiatives such as Inclusion 2028, working with the Youth Sport Trust to strengthen inclusive practice to ensure every child can participate, build confidence, and experience the benefits of school sport.

To ensure a smooth transition to the new approach, the government has confirmed £300,000 of funding for the Youth Sport Trust to continue delivering Inclusion 2028 until the end of the 2026/27 financial year, helping schools provide high-quality PE and physical activity opportunities for pupils with SEND.

The government is committed to ensuring every child can access high-quality physical education (PE) and school sport by removing barriers to participation. As part of our curriculum reforms, work is underway to develop a new curriculum and assessment system that is ambitious and accessible for every child, focused rich in knowledge and in skills. Following the Curriculum and Assessment Review, we have outlined our commitment to revisit the activity list for PE GCSE, AS and A levels to ensure the list is inclusive to all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A revised PE national curriculum is expected in spring 2027, with first teaching from 2028.

To support these ambitions, the government has committed more than £1 billion to school sport over the next three years, including £580 million for a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, investment in sports facilities and transitional support for primary schools. This network will build on existing initiatives such as Inclusion 2028, working with the Youth Sport Trust to strengthen inclusive practice to ensure every child can participate, build confidence, and experience the benefits of school sport.

To ensure a smooth transition to the new approach, the government has confirmed £300,000 of funding for the Youth Sport Trust to continue delivering Inclusion 2028 until the end of the 2026/27 financial year, helping schools provide high-quality PE and physical activity opportunities for pupils with SEND.

We are investing over £1 billion for PE and school sport over three years. This includes £580 million for a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network alongside investment in facilities which schools have been calling for and transitional support for primary schools.

Despite over a decade of PE and sport premium funding, less than half of children meet the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation of 60 active minutes a day, with persistent inequalities among groups including girls and those from disadvantaged and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

The Network will combine both a universal offer to all primary and secondary schools, plus targeted direct support for those schools and pupils who will benefit from it the most. This includes coaching, swimming provision and support to open facilities, as well as stronger links to extra‑curricular sport and local clubs. Schools will also receive funding to test and share effective practice, alongside more accessible programmes from National Governing Bodies and clearer pathways into community sport. Support will align more closely with wider programmes and include competitive sport opportunities and inclusive events for less‑active pupils. Provision will be informed by baseline and ongoing needs assessments led by a national delivery partner.

A National Delivery Partner will be appointed through a fair, open process, with detailed design confirmed through the procurement, but the approach will focus on supporting those most in need.

On 21 May 2026, the government announced that it is increasing investment and over £1 billion in school sports over the next three years, including funding for the new Partnerships Network, improvements to school sports facilities and transitional support for primary schools while we move to the new approach.

The Network will provide practical, targeted support to help schools increase participation. This includes coaching, swimming provision and support to open facilities; stronger links to extra‑curricular sport and local clubs.

Schools will also receive funding to test and share effective practice, alongside more accessible programmes from National Governing Bodies and clearer pathways into community sport. Support will align more closely with wider programmes and include competitive sport opportunities and inclusive events for less‑active pupils. Detailed design and funding allocations will be confirmed through the procurement process.

On 21 May 2026, the government announced that it is investing over £1 billion in school sports over the next three years, including funding for the new Partnerships Network, improvements to school sports facilities and transitional support for primary schools while we move to the new approach.

The Network will provide practical, targeted support to help schools increase participation. This includes coaching, swimming provision and support to open facilities and stronger links to extra‑curricular sport and local clubs. Schools will also receive funding to test and share effective practice, alongside more accessible programmes from National Governing Bodies and clearer pathways into community sport.

Support will align more closely with wider programmes and include competitive sport opportunities and inclusive events for less‑active pupils. Detailed design and funding allocations will be confirmed through the procurement process.

We are investing £1 billion over three years to build new sports networks. That money will be used by many different partners to support schools, bring resources together, and put funding directly into school budgets. We will be setting out more plans to reassure primary school heads of our commitment to increasing activity for children and young people.

Primary school headteachers in my constituency tell me that, according to their budget calculations, the cut in funding for physical education will have a real impact on opportunities for young people, especially in rural areas. What assurance can the Government give me that young people, especially those in rural areas such as Waveney Valley, will not lose out on vital sporting opportunities?

The department is increasing investment in PE and school sport, having announced over £1 billion investment over the next three years. This will fund new PE and Sports Partnerships, capital investment in facilities and specific programmes supporting inclusive PE and sports for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. This builds on the previous PE and Sports Premium, which had a cash value of £320 million from 2017/18 to 2025/26.

In November 2025, the government responded to the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, in which we accepted the recommendations made on PE. As part of this, we will revisit the aims of compulsory PE across all key stages and make clear the purpose of PE for all pupils, to ensure that schools recognise the need to protect at least two hours of PE time for their pupils throughout their time at school.

The government wants all children to access the significant physical and mental health benefits being physically active provides. The government is investing £1 billion to support this, including £580 million to establish a PE and School Sport Partnership. The network will support access for all children, especially those who are currently less active, through improving PE provision and increasing enrichment opportunities related to physical activity and sport.

This government is committed to breaking down barriers so that every child can access high-quality physical education and school sport. As part of our commitment to an inclusive school system the Youth Sport Trust is being funded to deliver Inclusion 2028, a programme that supports the school workforce to provide high-quality, inclusive PE and physical activity for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

Over £1 billion has been committed to school sport over the next three years, including £580 million for a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, and a £200 million investment in capital facilities. The new Partnerships Network will have a specific focus on tackling inactivity and will build on existing programmes, including Inclusion 2028, strengthening inclusive practice to ensure every child, regardless of need or disability, can participate, build confidence, and benefit from the sense of belonging that school sport provides.

On 21 May 2026, the government announced a new approach to PE and school sport funding.

We will procure a National Delivery Partner (NDP) to establish the new PE and School Sport Partnership Network. The NDP will conduct an assessment of need in each area and work with local partners and experts to ensure support is tailored to the needs of schools and communities, including in Yeovil.

The new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network will provide more targeted and consistent support to schools, focused on improving the quality of PE and increasing participation for all pupils, especially those who are least active.