Sector writes to Prime Minister following announcement on PE and school sport

The Active Partnerships National Organisation (on behalf of the Active Partnerships network), Youth Sport Trust, and the Association for Physical Education (afPE) have written to the Prime Minister welcoming the Government’s new approach to PE and school sport, following his recent announcement.

Speaking alongside the Lionesses, the England women’s national football team, the Prime Minister set out plans would include new School Sports Partnerships, and with a focus on increasing participation, supporting girl’s sport and ensuring schools can work more closely with clubs and community partners. Subsequent activity, including a question in the House of Lords, has clarified further details indicating funding will be provided in due course, with the new model set to be in place from Autumn 2026.

In the letter to the Prime Minister, the organisations state:

“This is a really important step towards a future where all children have daily opportunities to be physically active, improving their wellbeing, supporting access to essential life skills, and creating healthy habits that can persist throughout life.”

Responding after the announcement, Andy Taylor, CEO of the Active Partnerships National Organisation, said: “We are committed to working with national and local partners so that together we can help develop a new and innovative way forward. Ultimately, we all want to support children and young people to be more active in school and in the communities that they live in.

“We were particularly pleased to see the Government’s commitment to equality as making sure that everyone has equal access to activity is crucial. We look forward to finding out more about the Government’s plans.”

Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Ali Oliver MBE said: “We are grateful to the Government for listening and responding so comprehensively to our sector’s united call for a reimagined approach to PE and school sport. Children’s activity levels have been too low for too long. Less than half of children are as active as they need to be for normal growth, health and development, and this is resulting in unhappy, unhealthy and, all too often, digitally distracted young people.  We welcome the Government seeking to harness the vast potential of play and sport to change this.”

afPE CEO, Kate Thornton-Bousfield echoed this support, commenting, “We know that two hours of high quality PE is essential and that it can be life changing. That’s why we’re so delighted to see the Government take very seriously the evidence that there is a need to put PE at the heart of school life. The changes announced recently are the culmination of a lot of hard work from those within Government and from across the PE and sport sector. I am really hopeful that this marks a step change in bringing high quality, inclusive and engaging PE and sport experiences to every young person.”

The three organisations will continue working with schools, policymakers and local partners to help turn the Government’s ambition into action, ensuring all young people can benefit from the life-changing power of sport and physical activity.

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