The £320 million PE and sport premium for primary schools has been scrapped in 2026 in favour of a new ‘partnerships network’. There is around 22% less annual funding available than the previous scheme.
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.
This could include providing new coaches, top-up swimming lessons and increased extracurricular activities to meet local demand. Schools will also be able to access a universal offer, which will include online training.
Rather than money flowing directly to schools as has happened previously, a national delivery partner will work with national governing bodies to deliver this support.
Annual funding for PE and sports has also been cut.
In 2024-2025, 78% of Year Six pupils could swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres and 78% could perform self-rescue in different water-based situations. School swimming has encountered significant disruption due to Covid-19. Nevertheless, The Marton Academy has worked tirelessly to plug these gaps.