Sports Premium

The Primary PE & Sports Premium

In March 2013 the government announced that it was to provide additional funding of £150 million per annum for academic years 2013 to 2014 and 2014 to 2015 to improve provision of physical education (PE) and sport in primary schools in England.

This funding – provided jointly by the Departments for Education, Health and Culture, Media and Sport – is allocated to primary school headteachers. The funding is ring-fenced and therefore can only be spent on provision of PE and sport in schools.

On 6th February 2014 the then Prime Minister, David Cameron committed to continue the funding for the Primary PE & Sport Premium until 2020.

Funding for the PE and Sports Premium

Schools receive PE and sport premium funding based on the number of pupils in years 1 to 6. In most cases, it is determined how many pupils attract the funding using data from the January school census.

Purpose of funding:

Schools must spend the additional funding on improving their provision of PE and sport, but they will have the freedom to choose how they do this.

Vision:

All pupils leaving primary school physically literate and with the knowledge, skills and motivation necessary to equip them for a healthy lifestyle and lifelong participation in physical activity and sport.

Objective:

To achieve self-sustaining improvement in the quality of PE and sport in primary schools(see diagram below).

We would expect indicators of such improvement to include:

  • The engagement of all pupils in regular physical activity – kick-starting healthy active lifestyles
  • The profile of PE and sport being raised across the school as a tool for whole school improvement
  • Increased confidence, knowledge and skills of all staff in teaching PE and sport
  • Broader experience of a range of sports and activities offered to all pupils
  • Increased participation in competitive sport

All of the above contribute to enrich and broaden the quality of PE and sport provision throughout the school as well as serving to raise all children’s awareness of the importance of why doing physical exercise is so important to develop a healthy body and mind.

This has impacted on children developing a passion for this area of learning and thus positively increasing their enjoyment of school and contributing to raise overall standards of achievement.

From September 2013, schools will be held to account over how they spend their additional, ring-fenced funding. Ofsted will strengthen the coverage of PE and sport within the ‘Inspectors’ handbook’ and supporting guidance so that both schools and inspectors know how sport and PE will be assessed in future as part of the school’s overall provision.

Schools will also be required to include details of their provision of PE and sport on their website, alongside details of their broader curriculum, so that parents can compare sports provision between schools, both within and beyond the school day.