If you are a headteacher, school business manager or PE lead, 2026/27 is the year your PE and Sport Premium looks very different. The grant is smaller, it lands in one payment, and it is the last year before the funding model changes completely. Here is exactly what to expect, what it means for your budget, and how to make every pound count for your pupils.
How much PE and Sport Premium will my school get in 2026/27?
The Department for Education calculates every allocation using the same standardised method, based on the number of pupils in Years 1 to 6 recorded in the January 2026 census:
- 17 or more eligible pupils: £6,240 plus £10 per pupil
- 16 or fewer eligible pupils: £390 per pupil
Where pupils are not recorded by year group, those aged 5 to 10 are deemed eligible. Schools teaching eligible pupils for the first time in 2026/27 are funded on the autumn 2026 census and paid in February 2027.
What that looks like for a typical primary
Pupils in Years 1 to 6 | 2026/27 allocation | Previous rate (£16,000 + £10 per pupil) |
|---|---|---|
16 | £6,240 | £6,240 (£390 per pupil) |
100 | £7,240 | £17,000 |
210 (one-form entry) | £8,340 | £18,100 |
420 (two-form entry) | £10,440 | £20,200 |
When will PE and Sport Premium be paid in 2026/27?
School type | Payment date |
|---|---|
Local authorities and their maintained schools | 30 October 2026 |
Academies (including MAT schools) | 9 November 2026 |
Non-maintained special schools (NMSS) | 18 December 2026 |
Schools teaching eligible pupils for the first time | February 2027 |
In previous years the premium arrived in two instalments, autumn and spring. The 2026/27 timetable lists one payment date per school type, so plan on the whole allocation arriving this autumn and needing to cover everything you commit to. Maintained schools receive their funding via the local authority, so check with your LA finance team if it has not appeared by early November.
Why is 2026/27 different? The move to a partnerships network
2026/27 is a transition year. The DfE has confirmed the PE and Sport Premium, worth £320m a year, is being replaced by a national PE and School Sport Partnerships Network covering primary, secondary and special schools.
- £150m of transition funding for primaries in 2026/27, raised from an original £100m after concerns from school leaders. This is what your £6,240 plus £10 per pupil comes from.
- From January 2027 the new network begins working with schools, with support delivered from April 2027.
- The new model offers universal support (CPD, guidance, resources), targeted help for schools in greatest need, and discretionary support, rather than money paid directly into your budget.
- Reported annual funding under the new scheme is around 22% lower than the current premium.
What this means in practice: the cash your school controls for PE is shrinking, and from 2027 support shifts from a grant you spend to a service you access. The schools that come out strongest will be the ones that use this final allocation to build lasting capability in their own staff.
How to spend a smaller PE and Sport Premium well
The premium has always been about sustainable improvement, not buying in activity that disappears when the money does. With less to spend and one payment to work with, that principle matters more than ever.
- Upskill your staff. CPD is the one spend that keeps paying back after the funding ends. A confident class teacher delivers better PE for years.
- Protect extra-curricular activity. Clubs are often the first thing cut. They are also where many children find the sport they stick with.
- Avoid long contracts. Commit to what 2026/27 funds and review once the partnerships network offer is clear.
- Track impact. Record teacher confidence, pupil participation and attainment now, so you have evidence ready for the new model and for Ofsted.
- Prioritise the least active children. Target clubs and CPD at the pupils and staff who will gain the most.
FIFTH Movement CPD: build PE confidence that outlasts the funding
Our CPD programme uses a team-teach approach. A FIFTH Movement subject specialist teaches alongside your staff, in your hall, with your pupils. Teachers watch, co-deliver and then lead, so the learning sticks in real lessons rather than a training room.
TEACHER CONFIDENCE 91% feel more confident teaching PE | COACHES 50+ specialist, qualified and accredited | SUBJECT AREAS 6 covering the core PE curriculum |
Subject areas we cover
- Gymnastics: safe progressions, sequences and apparatus work
- Dance: creative movement, composition and performance
- Tag rugby: invasion game principles, teamwork and tactics
- Striking and fielding: cricket and rounders skills, rules and game play
- Ball skills: sending, receiving and the fundamentals behind every game
- Outdoor and adventurous activities (OAA): problem-solving, orienteering and trust
Packages and prices
Package | What is included | Price |
|---|---|---|
Half day | Team-teach PE plus a lunchtime club | £135 |
1 full day | Team-teach PE plus a lunchtime club (after-school club add-on £50) | £205 |
2 to 4 full days | Team-teach PE, daily lunchtime clubs and one weekly after-school club (extra after-school club £50) | £199.50 per day |
Every package includes a lunchtime club, so your PE and Sport Premium improves teaching and gets more children active in the same visit. Explore our CPD programme.
FIFTH Movement Active Clubs: more children, more active, more often
Active Clubs give children a reason to move before school, at lunchtime and after the bell. Our specialist coaches run high-energy, inclusive sessions designed to build a positive, lifelong relationship with physical activity, including for children who say they “don’t do sport”.
Activities we deliver
- Multi-sports: a taster of a different sport every few weeks
- Dance: from street to contemporary, built around performance
- Gymnastics: balance, strength and body control
- Martial arts: discipline, focus and respect
- Boxing: non-contact fitness, coordination and confidence
- Cheerleading: teamwork, rhythm and routines
- Yoga: flexibility, breathing and calm, great for wellbeing
Choose the package that fits your school
Package | Time in school | What it entails |
|---|---|---|
Lite | Half day | Half-day PE plus a lunchtime club |
Standard | 1 full day | Full-day PE plus a lunchtime club |
Advanced | 2 to 4 days | Full-day PE, lunchtime and after-school clubs, a scheme of work, plus reporting and assessment |
Elite | Full week | Everything in Advanced, plus School Games Mark support and sports day delivery |
“The coaches are not only highly skilled but also genuinely passionate about fostering sports engagement in every child.” PE Lead, E-ACT Blackley Academy |
Frequently asked questions
How much is the PE and Sport Premium for 2026/27?
Schools with 17 or more pupils in Years 1 to 6 receive £6,240 plus £10 per pupil. Schools with 16 or fewer receive £390 per pupil. Numbers come from the January 2026 census.
When is the PE and Sport Premium paid in 2026/27?
30 October 2026 for local authority maintained schools, 9 November 2026 for academies and 18 December 2026 for non-maintained special schools. Schools teaching eligible pupils for the first time are paid in February 2027.
Is the PE and Sport Premium ending?
Yes, in its current form. 2026/27 is a transition year funded by £150m of transition funding. A national PE and School Sport Partnerships Network starts working with schools from January 2027, delivering support from April 2027.
Why is my 2026/27 allocation lower than last year?
The fixed element has fallen from £16,000 to £6,240. The £10 per pupil element is unchanged. A 210-pupil primary receives £8,340 compared with £18,100 under the previous rate.
What is the best use of a reduced PE and Sport Premium?
Spend that builds lasting capacity: team-teach CPD that grows staff confidence, and clubs that get the least active children moving. Avoid multi-year commitments until the new network offer is confirmed.
Can PE and Sport Premium be used for CPD and after-school clubs?
Yes. Staff CPD in PE and extra-curricular activity that increases participation are both established uses of the premium. FIFTH Movement CPD packages include a lunchtime club as standard.
Sources
GOV.UK, PE and sport premium conditions of grant 2026 to 2027, section 3 (calculation and payment timetable)
Schools Week, PE and sport premium: DfE increases transition funding (9 July 2026)
School Business Services, The end of the PE Premium (27 May 2026)
