{"id":246895,"date":"2026-05-21T17:58:36","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T16:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=246895"},"modified":"2026-05-22T15:57:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T14:57:02","slug":"dfe-scraps-pe-and-sport-premium-in-favour-of-partnerships-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/dfe-scraps-pe-and-sport-premium-in-favour-of-partnerships-network\/","title":{"rendered":"DfE scraps PE and sport premium in favour of ‘partnerships network’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u00a3320 million PE and sport premium for primary schools will be scrapped<\/a> in favour of a new “partnerships network” with around 22 per cent less annual funding than the current scheme.<\/p>\n

Ministers said last year they would review the funding stream<\/a> as it was “not delivering the step change that we would like to see”.<\/p>\n

Now the Department for Education has said a new “PE and school sport partnerships network” will run from spring 2027, bringing targeted support to primary and secondary schools based on their needs.<\/p>\n

This could include providing new coaches, top-up swimming lessons and increased extra-curricular activities to meet local demand. Schools will also be able to access a universal offer, which will include online training.<\/p>\n

Rather than money flowing directly to schools as it does now, a national delivery partner will work with national governing bodies to deliver this support.<\/p>\n

Annual funding for PE and sports has also been cut. The DfE said the network will receive \u00a3580 million over three years.<\/p>\n

Schools Week<\/em> initially reported that this worked out as less than \u00a3200 million a year, 40 per cent less than the value of the old premium.<\/p>\n

But following publication the DfE clarified the \u00a3580 million would be spent over seven school terms, not three full years. Based on that clarification, the funding is 22 per cent less than the equivalent value of the old premium.<\/p>\n

There will also be \u00a3200 million in capital funding for school sports facilities and a one-off \u00a3100 million for schools to help them during the transition to the new system.<\/p>\n

Questions over funding <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Paul Whiteman, general secretary at NAHT, said: \u201cAt a time when budgets are under huge pressure, school leaders will be deeply concerned at the loss of a well-established funding stream.<\/p>\n

“While there may be some merit in a network-based approach, leaders will have a range of questions about how that will work in practice, particularly as the funding now appears to be spread across more schools.<\/p>\n

“School leaders will want assurances that these networks will reach every part of the country and that all the funding will get to the frontline and not be spent on new layers of bureaucracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Ali Oliver, CEO of the Youth Sport Trust, said the announcement reflected a step towards a new approach they \u201chave consistently called for\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cA period of change with the transition to a new era of PE and school sport will take time and understandably cause uncertainty. We know many questions will remain from across the sector and we, like others, await further detail about what the investment today will mean in practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the meantime, we hope today\u2019s announcement is a step towards longer-term clarity and stability for schools and those working with education to harness the many life changing benefits that come from play and sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are optimistic a new approach can transform the system, building capacity within schools, closing the gaps created by inequality, improving quality and opportunity, and building the right local partnerships which maximise resources and long-term sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kate Thornton-Bousfield, CEO of the Association for Physical Education, also welcomed the news.<\/p>\n

“We are encouraged to see progress towards a long\u2011term vision for PE and school sport. We hope today\u2019s announcement marks the beginning of greater stability and long\u2011term planning for schools.”<\/p>\n

The PE Premium was introduced in 2013 as part of the London 2012 Olympic Legacy. Teachers previously claimed that this funding was being misused<\/a> by schools and that there needed to be further scrutiny.<\/p>\n

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: \u201cSchool sport builds confidence, belonging and wellbeing: priceless gifts that put kids on the path to getting on in life \u2013 and can even uncover the elite sports stars of the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cYet too many children have been missing out. Our\u00a0new approach\u00a0will see every child \u2013 across both primary and secondary \u2013 more physically active regardless of their circumstances, background, ability or where they go to school.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sport Minister Stephanie Peacock said the new model \u201cwill not only mean that children get access to high-quality PE lessons, it will also bring in clubs, coaches and sporting bodies to help physical activity become part of their everyday lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

The DfE say the new model will \u2018modernise\u2019 the previous partnerships model, which was in place in the early 2000s but was scrapped by the coalition government.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Total annual funding for replacement scheme will be 22% lower than what schools receive now, but \u00a3200m capital cash coming<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":316072,"featured_media":246702,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[3705,449],"post-theme":[2425],"class_list":["post-246895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-pe-and-sports","tag-school-funding","post-theme-school-funding"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t