Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026
Letter from the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education relating to PE and School Sport Partnerships, 22 May 2026
From: Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Inquiry: Game On: Community and school sport
Summary
Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson outlines 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 shift targets support towards schools with greatest need, extends provision to secondary schools, and introduces a dedicated capital fund for facilities. Schools receive £100m transitional funding in 2026/27.
Key findings
- Primary PE and Sport Premium will be replaced by PE and School Sport Partnerships Network operating from January 2027, extending support to both primary and secondary schools
- Government allocates £100m for 2026/27 to provide eligible primary schools with a final PE and Sport Premium payment to ease transition
- New Network will deliver support through universal provision and targeted local support based on needs analysis by Network Delivery Partners, including coaching, CPD, and links with local clubs
- Government recognises schools' longstanding request to use PE funding for capital projects; dedicated capital fund in development to improve access to physical activity facilities
- Current approach acknowledged as creating reporting burden on schools and failing to consistently deliver objectives; DCMS Select Committee's Game On report highlighted consistency, benchmarking, transparency and accountability issues
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Bridget Phillipson MP, Dame Caroline, Department for Education, DCMS Select Committee, 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 also recognise the longstanding request from schools for previous PE and Sport Premium funding to be used for capital projects, something that was not previously permitted.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗