What’s Replacing the PE and Sports Premium in 2027?

For more than a decade, the PE and Sport Premium has helped primary schools across England improve their PE, sport, and physical activity provision. But now, things are changing.

In May 2026, the UK Government announced that the existing PE and Sport Premium will be replaced by a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network as part of a wider investment in school sport. This new approach is intended to give children better and more consistent access to physical activity, regardless of where they live or which school they attend.

But what exactly is changing? When will the new system begin? And, most importantly, what does it mean for schools?

Here’s what we know so far.

Is the PE and Sport Premium Ending?

Yes. The Government has confirmed that the PE and Sport Premium will be replaced. However, this isn’t an overnight change. The PE and Sport Premium remains in place for the 2025/26 academic year, with eligible primary schools receiving funding under the existing arrangements.

For 2025/26, schools with 16 or fewer eligible pupils receive £1,000 per pupil. Schools with 17 or more eligible pupils receive £16,000 plus £10 per eligible pupil. Schools receiving this funding must continue to follow the existing PE and Sport Premium rules, including the requirements around how the funding is used and reported.

There will then be a transition towards the new system during 2026/27, with the new Partnerships Network expected to be fully operational from Spring 2027.

It’s also been confirmed that a final, one-off £100 million PE Premium payment will be made to support primary schools during this transition.

What is Replacing the PE and Sport Premium?

The replacement is called the PE and School Sport Partnerships Network. Rather than relying solely on the previous model of providing PE and Sport Premium funding directly to eligible primary schools, this new approach will create a network designed to provide practical and targeted support. It will also broaden the reach of the Government’s school sport programme.

The current PE and Sport Premium is principally for schools with primary-aged pupils. The new Network is intended to reach every primary and secondary school, bringing schools together with sporting organisations and expertise.

In simple terms, the Government wants to move from a largely school-by-school funding model towards a more connected system.

Why is the System Changing?

The aim behind the change is to address differences in children’s access to physical activity and sport. According to the Government, fewer than half of children currently achieve the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation of an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity per day across the week.

There are also significant differences in participation, including among girls, disadvantaged children, children with SEND, and young people from some ethnic minority backgrounds. The idea is for the new system to target support more closely towards children and schools where it can have the greatest impact.

For parents, the principle is relatively simple: a child’s opportunities to enjoy sport and physical activity shouldn’t be determined by their postcode or circumstances. For schools, it could mean access to a wider network of expertise, activities, and support rather than having to plan everything independently.

How the PE and School Sport Partnerships Network Will Work

Some of the finer details are still being developed. As of August 2026, the Government has said that the detailed design and funding allocations for the Network will be confirmed through the procurement process. A national delivery partner will also be appointed.

However, we already have a good idea of what the Network is intended to provide. Support could include:

• Specialist coaching
• Support with swimming provision
• Professional development and training to help staff feel more confident delivering PE
• Stronger links between schools, local sports clubs, and national governing bodies
• Better access to extra-curricular sport
• Competitive sporting opportunities
• Inclusive activities and events aimed at children who are currently less active
• Support for schools to open and make greater use of their sporting facilities
• Opportunities for schools to test and share effective approaches

Rather than every school necessarily receiving the same support, the intention is to make the new approach more targeted. That could mean schools and pupils with the greatest barriers to participation receive additional help.

What’s Happening During the Transition

The timeline is important, particularly for primary schools that are used to planning around their annual PE and Sport Premium allocation.

2025/26: the existing Premium continues

The existing PE and Sport Premium remains in place for the 2025/26 academic year. Schools should therefore continue to use their current allocation in accordance with the existing Department for Education guidance.

2026/27: the transition begins

The following academic year will act as a transition towards the new approach. The DfE has confirmed a one-off £100 million PE Premium payment to support primary schools through this period.

Further details about the new Network, including how funding and support will be allocated, are expected as its design and procurement progress.

Spring 2027: the new Network

The Government expects the PE and School Sport Partnerships Network to be fully operational from Spring 2027. This is when schools should begin to see the new partnership-led model operating at scale.

It’s worth remembering that further guidance may be published before then, so schools should continue to check the latest DfE information as plans develop.

How Much Money is Being Invested?

There are several large figures involved in the announcement, so it’s worth separating them.

The Government has committed more than £1 billion to PE and school sport over three years.

Within the wider package:

• £580 million will back the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network
• Around £200 million has been announced as capital funding to improve school sporting facilities, including making them more accessible to students with SEND
• £100 million covers the final one-off PE Premium payment to support primary schools during the transition to the new approach

These are different parts of the wider investment rather than separate descriptions of the same pot of money.

What This New System Could Mean

For Primary Schools

For primary schools, this represents a significant change. Under the existing Premium, eligible schools receive an allocation and make decisions about how to use it within the Government’s rules. The new approach places greater emphasis on partnership, expertise, and targeted support. That could give schools access to specialist knowledge and opportunities they may struggle to provide on their own.

For example, a school might benefit from stronger links with local sports organisations, specialist coaching, staff development, or help in encouraging pupils who don’t currently engage with traditional sports. There is also an increased emphasis on inclusion.

The Government has said the new Network will build on programmes including Inclusion 2028, aiming to help children with SEND access high-quality PE and physical activity. For teachers, that could mean more support in creating activities that work for a broader range of children. For pupils, it should mean more opportunities to find something active that they genuinely enjoy.

For Secondary Schools

One of the biggest differences between the old and new approaches is that the Network isn’t intended only for primary schools. Secondary schools will also benefit from this new sporting expertise. That creates the potential for greater continuity as children move through their education, rather than targeted support being concentrated predominantly at primary level.

It could also help schools build stronger local relationships and clearer routes from school activities into community clubs and other sporting opportunities.

Important Questions to Ask

How Will Pupils Benefit?

Ultimately, the success of the new system will depend on what children experience as a result of it. Not every child wants to play football, after all! Not every pupil is confident in a traditional PE lesson, either. And not every child has access to organised sport outside school.

A good school sport offer therefore needs to give children different ways to get moving, take part, and have fun. The new model is intended to increase participation, particularly among children who are currently less active or face barriers to taking part. That could mean greater variety, more inclusive opportunities, and better links between what happens during the school day and the activities available beyond the school gates.

Physical activity can also be about much more than competitive sport. Running, jumping, balancing, throwing, skipping, playground games, and active play can all encourage children to move more.

For younger pupils in particular, the playground can be one of the easiest places to make being active part of the everyday school experience.

Will Schools Still Have Control Over Their PE and Sport Provision?

No. Schools will still have an important role in deciding how PE, sport, and physical activity work for their pupils. However, we also shouldn’t assume that the arrangements will work in the same way as the existing PE and Sport Premium, as exactly how the system will work is yet to be determined in full.

Can the New Funding be Spent on Playground Markings?

This is an important question, but at the moment, it’s too early to give schools a definitive answer. Under the existing PE and Sport Premium, schools have had rules and guidance setting out how funding can be used to create sustainable improvements to PE, sport, and physical activity. The new Partnerships Network will operate differently, and the Government has not yet published all of the detailed rules about how individual schools will access or spend funding under the new model. 

As such, we wouldn’t recommend planning a project on the assumption that a particular playground improvement will automatically qualify under the new arrangements. What we can say is that many of the aims behind the new system are closely connected to what an active playground can achieve. 

Well-designed playground markings can encourage children to be active during break and lunch times, provide opportunities for informal games and physical challenges, and give pupils who aren’t drawn to organised or competitive sports another way to participate. They can also help schools make better everyday use of the outdoor space they already have.

As further guidance on the Partnerships Network becomes available, we’ll update our information to explain what it means for schools considering playground improvements.

What Schools Should Do Right Now

There is no need for schools to rush into changing plans. If you’re working with your 2025/26 PE and Sport Premium, the existing rules and reporting requirements still apply. Primary schools should also be aware of the Government’s planned one-off £100 million transition payment and watch for further guidance about the 2026/27 arrangements.

Beyond that, this is a good opportunity to think about what you want physical activity to look like across your school.

• Which pupils are already active?
• Who isn’t getting involved?
• Are there barriers that make participation difficult for some children?
• Could break and lunch times offer more opportunities to move?
• Do staff feel confident delivering a varied and inclusive PE offer?
• And are you making the most of the outdoor space you already have?
• Those questions are useful regardless of the funding model.

Information for Parents

For parents, the biggest point is that PE and sport aren’t being removed from schools. If anything, there should be more opportunities for high-quality physical activity and sports through inclusive lessons, links to community clubs, and extra-curriculars. There is nothing parents need to do, either, unless they would like to supplement this by taking their kids to do sports and activities outside of school. 

The new approach is also intended to cover secondary as well as primary schools.

So, while the name and funding system are changing, the overall aim remains clear: helping more children lead active, healthy lives.

Looking Ahead to 2027

There is still more information to come. Between now and Spring 2027, schools can expect further information about how the Network will operate, what support will be available, and how individual schools can access it.

We’ll continue to follow those announcements and update this guide as further details are confirmed. For now, the key message for schools is simple: the PE and Sport Premium is changing, rather than support for school sport disappearing. A new partnership-led system is on its way, with a stronger focus on inclusion, participation, and helping children who are currently the least active.

And whatever the funding mechanism looks like, the goal remains giving every child more opportunities to move, play, and enjoy being active.

How to Make Your Playground More Active in the Meantime

However school sport funding changes, a well-planned playground can give children more opportunities to move, play, and be active throughout the school day. Whether you already have a project in mind or you’re simply exploring what could work in your playground, we’re happy to help. We can discuss your ideas, recommend suitable markings and, where needed, carry out a site survey to help you visualise the possibilities.

Get in touch with us today and tell us about your playground, and see what we could create for your school.