A major shift in approach
The government has announced a major new investment in PE, school sport, and physical activity, with plans to replace the current PE and Sport Premium with a new national partnerships network by 2027.
The headline figure is eye-catching: £1 billion to help end the 'fitness postcode lottery' and improve access to high-quality physical activity opportunities for children across England.
But what does the announcement actually mean for schools?
And how will it change the current PE and Sport Premium system?
Here’s what school leaders, PE leads, and senior leadership teams need to know.
What’s changing?
For years, the PE and Sport Premium has provided ringfenced funding directly to primary schools to improve PE, sport, and physical activity provision.
Under the new plans, the government wants to move away from schools working in isolation and towards a more connected, partnership-led model.
The proposed PE and School Sport Partnerships Network will bring together:
- Schools
- Local sports clubs
- Activity providers
- Governing bodies
- Community organisations
The aim is to ensure every child has access to high-quality physical activity opportunities, regardless of where they live.
In short, the focus is shifting from simply funding PE provision to building a wider culture of movement, wellbeing, and participation across the whole school experience.
How is it different from the current PE and Sport Premium?
The biggest change is that the current PE and Sport Premium model will eventually be phased out and replaced.
Current PE and Sport Premium
- Funding goes directly to primary schools
- Schools independently decide how funding is spent
- Provision varies significantly between schools and regions
New Partnerships Network
- Support will be delivered through local partnerships
- Funding and provision will be more targeted
- Both primary and secondary schools will be included
- Greater focus on tackling inequalities and inactivity
The government says the reforms are designed to end the current 'postcode lottery' in access to PE and school sport.
Schools are not losing funding immediately
Importantly, this is not an overnight change.
The government has confirmed:
- A £100 million transition fund for primary schools
- Additional investment into sports facilities and equipment
- A phased rollout, with the new system expected to be operational from Spring 2027
Schools should also be reassured that the PE and Sport Premium will continue into the autumn term, giving leaders time to review provision and plan strategically for the future.
While details of the new network are still emerging, the government’s priorities around physical activity, inclusion, wellbeing, enrichment, and sustainable improvement are becoming increasingly clear.
A stronger focus on physical activity across the school day
One of the clearest themes in the announcement is that schools will increasingly be encouraged to think beyond traditional PE lessons.
The government is placing greater emphasis on:
- Daily physical activity
- Inclusion
- Mental wellbeing
- Reducing inactivity
- Support for SEND pupils
- Swimming and water safety
- Wider enrichment opportunities
- Sustainable school improvement through physical activity
- Improving confidence and engagement
This reflects growing evidence that movement supports not only physical health, but also wellbeing, concentration, resilience, and academic performance.
For many schools, this could strengthen the case for approaches that embed movement throughout the curriculum, not just during PE lessons.
What this could mean for physically active learning
The announcement aligns closely with the growing momentum behind physically active learning (PAL).
Programmes like Maths on the Move and English on the Move already demonstrate how movement can support:
- Academic attainment
- Confidence
- Mental wellbeing
- Engagement
- Physical activity levels
Research consistently shows that children learn better when they are active, with movement helping pupils absorb, retain, and apply key concepts more effectively.
As schools prepare for a more holistic approach to physical activity and wellbeing, physically active learning could play an increasingly important role in whole-school improvement strategies.
What should schools be thinking about now?
While further details will emerge over the next 12–18 months, schools may benefit from beginning to consider:
- How physical activity supports wider school priorities
- Evidence-based interventions with measurable impact
- Inclusive opportunities for less active pupils
- Partnerships with trusted providers
- Approaches that support both wellbeing and attainment
The direction of travel is clear: physical activity is no longer being viewed solely as a PE issue.
It is becoming part of a wider conversation around:
- School improvement
- Attendance
- Mental health
- Inclusion
- Academic success
- Long-term health outcomes
This announcement represents one of the biggest shifts in school sport and physical activity policy in years.
For schools, it brings both change and opportunity.
The new model signals a move towards a more joined-up, inclusive, and evidence-led approach, one that recognises the powerful role movement can play in helping children feel healthier, happier, and more ready to learn.