The past few weeks have brought a wave of questions from school leaders, PE coordinators, and governors across the country. Following the government’s announcements on the future of PE and Sport Premium, understandably, a lot of schools want to know: what does this actually mean for us?
What Is Happening to PE and Sport Premium?
The government has confirmed a significant shift in how PE and school sport funding will be structured going forward, backed by a £1 billion investment into physical education and school sport. This is not a withdrawal from PE, it is a reconfiguration.
The announcement has sparked searches across the country for terms like “PE and Sport Premium ending,” “school sport premium changes 2025,” and “what replaces PE premium.” If you’ve landed here because of one of those searches, here’s the honest answer: the model is changing, but the government’s commitment to PE, school sport, and children’s physical development is not going away.
What the Government Has Confirmed
Several priorities have been explicitly identified as key national objectives within the new framework:
- PE and physical activity in schools is still a core commitment
- Inclusion, ensuring every child, regardless of background or ability, has access to quality provision
- Swimming, confirmed as a national priority, with schools still expected to meet statutory requirements
- Enrichment, broader opportunities for children to experience sport and physical activity beyond the curriculum
- Sports Premium funding will still be available in Autumn term 2026/27
These are not new ideas. They have been central to what high-quality school sport providers have always delivered. The framing may be evolving, but the outcomes schools are expected to achieve for their pupils remain firmly in place.
Is PE and Sport Premium Ending?
This is the question we’re hearing most. The short answer is: the current PE and Sport Premium ring-fenced funding model is under review, but provision continues.
Critically, funding is confirmed to continue into the autumn term. That means schools can and should plan their PE provision now, with confidence, rather than waiting. Pausing or scaling back provision while national detail is finalised would leave children without the opportunities they need and deserve.
What the final model will look like beyond autumn — the precise mechanisms, accountability frameworks, and how funding flows — is still being worked through at a national level. That detail will come. But the direction of travel is clear: government investment in children’s PE and physical activity is continuing, not ending.
What This Means for Schools Right Now
Here is the practical reality for school leaders:
- Maintain your provision — don’t wait. Funding continues into autumn. Schools that pause now will have gaps in their offer that are difficult to fill quickly. Children’s physical development doesn’t stop because policy is being reviewed.
- Focus on outcomes, not just spend. The shift in government language is towards demonstrable impact — what are children actually experiencing, learning, and achieving as a result of PE and school sport investment? This has always been the right focus. Schools with strong, evidenced provision are well placed whatever the final model looks like.
- Choose partners who can demonstrate real impact. As the framework evolves, schools will need trusted providers who deliver high-quality, measurable outcomes — not box-ticking. The accountability bar is likely to rise, which is a good thing for children and for the sector.
- Keep swimming a priority. Swimming remains a statutory requirement and a named national priority. Schools that have been slow to meet their statutory swimming targets need to act. Provision like Swim:ED — which delivers on-site swimming directly into schools — removes the logistical barriers that have held many schools back.
What About Inclusion and Enrichment?
Both have been explicitly named in government priorities. This matters.
Inclusion in PE isn’t simply about SEND provision — it’s about creating an environment where every child, regardless of confidence, background, or physical ability, experiences the joy of movement and sport. Enrichment means going beyond the curriculum minimum to create genuine, memorable physical experiences for children.
Schools that take these seriously, and work with providers who share these values, are not going to be caught off-guard by whatever the new model looks like. They are already doing the right thing.
Periods of Change Create Opportunity
It’s easy to feel paralysed when policy announcements create uncertainty. But there’s another way to read this moment.
The government investing £1 billion into PE and school sport is a signal — a clear one — that children’s physical activity is being taken seriously at the highest level. The question for schools is not “is this a threat?” It’s “how do we make sure we’re positioned to benefit?”
Schools that stay calm, maintain provision, build strong partnerships with high-quality providers, and focus on outcomes for children will be ahead of the curve when the full picture becomes clear.
How FIFTH Movement Is Supporting Schools Through This
At FIFTH Movement, nothing about the government’s announcements has changed what we do or why we do it. We have always been focused on the things that are now confirmed as national priorities: quality PE delivery, inclusion, swimming, enrichment, and genuine impact for children.
Our offer to schools includes:
- PE Delivery (PPA cover and teacher mentoring) — high-quality, curriculum-aligned PE delivered directly into your school
- Swim:ED — an on-site pop-up pool programme that makes meeting your statutory swimming requirement straightforward, removing transport barriers entirely
- Active Clubs — enrichment through sport and physical activity, creating opportunities for every child
- Holiday Camps — keeping children active and engaged beyond term time
If you’re a school leader trying to plan your provision for the autumn term, we’re here to help you do exactly that — confidently, and with a provider who genuinely cares about outcomes for your pupils.
Summary: Key Points on PE and Sport Premium Changes
- The government is investing £1 billion into PE and school sport — this is not defunding
- PE, inclusion, swimming, and enrichment are confirmed national priorities
- The current PE and Sport Premium model is changing, but provision and funding continue into the autumn term
- Schools should plan provision now, not wait
- The long-term model is still being worked through nationally — more detail will follow
- High-quality, outcomes-focused provision will be valued more, not less, in the new framework
Get in Touch
If you have questions about your school’s PE provision, want to talk through your options for the autumn term, or want to explore what Swim:ED or any of our other programmes could offer your pupils — we’d love to hear from you.
FIFTH Movement delivers high-quality PE and school sport programmes to primary schools, MATs, and local authorities. Our focus is always on outcomes that genuinely matter for children.
