School sports: Concern at yet another DfE curriculum requirement

As part of several announcements, ministers have also introduced a new standard requiring schools to offer equal access to sports for boys and girls, with the School Games Mark to be expanded to reward schools for parity of provision.

Meanwhile, funding for the PE and Sports Premium for primary schools has been continued with £600m to be invested across the next two years. And a new funding pot of up to £57m will support primary and secondary schools to open their sport facilities outside of hours. This funding is especially targeted at girls, disadvantaged pupils, and those with SEND.

School leaders this week welcomed the funding and the government’s support for these goals. However, they pointed out that the “vast majority” of schools will already be offering equal access to sports and called for a “reality check” when it came to the “multitude of expectations” on curriculum time and resources.