Committee publication · Correspondence · 2 June 2026
Letter from Secretary of State on PE and School Sport Partnerships, dated 21.05.26
From: Education Committee
Summary
Secretary of State Bridget Phillipson announces the government's replacement of the Primary PE and Sport Premium with a new national PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, launching January 2027. The Network will target support to schools with greatest need, incorporate the School Games Organiser Network, and extend coverage to secondary schools. Schools will receive £100m as transition funding in 2026/27, and a new capital fund will support facility improvements.
Key findings
- PE and Sport Premium has operated for over a decade with per-pupil funding but no needs assessment, creating reporting burdens and inconsistent outcomes across schools
- New PE and School Sport Partnerships Network launching January 2027 will replace Primary Premium, extend to secondary schools, and use needs-based targeting via Network Delivery Partners
- Universal provision plus targeted local support will be available, including coaching, facility access, CPD, and links to local clubs and community sport providers
- £100m transition funding allocated for 2026/27 to provide primary schools a final PE and Sport Premium payment ahead of Network launch
- New dedicated capital fund being developed to enable schools to use funding for facility improvements, addressing longstanding school requests
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Bridget Phillipson, Department for Education, DCMS Select Committee, Prime Minister, Network Delivery Partners, School Games Organiser Network
Notable line
“The Network will replace the Primary PE and Sport Premium and extend provision to secondary schools.”
Key Quotes
“For over a decade, successive governments have funded the PE and Sport Premium in primary schools, allocating funding on a per pupil basis but with no assessment of the specific needs of individual primary schools.”
“The Network will be in operation from January 2027. From then, all state-funded schools will be able to access support through a mixture of universal provision, and more targeted local support directed to schools that need it most …”
“We recognise that moving to a new approach will require careful planning. This is why during the next academic year (26/27) we will allocate £100m to provide eligible primary schools with a term's allocation of the PE and School Sport Premium as a final payment to support transition …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗