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Making the most of your PE and sport premium in 2025

Published on 20th February, 2025

Most UK Primary Schools are eligible for a ‘PE and Sport Premium’ allocation of £16,000 (+ £10 per pupil).

Primary School Children enjoying themselves in a dance club - example of how to use PE and Sport Premium

You can check your school’s PE and Sport funding allocation here.

If you are the school PE Coordinator and do not know about this funding, we recommend speaking to your school Business Manager. They can help share how this funding is being invested in your school’s sporting opportunities. 

The funding should be used to build on your current provision, with a focus on sustainable improvements to the delivery of your physical education and sport.

Here are some strategies that could help you to develop a high quality, broad and balanced PE Curriculum for your school:

1. Develop Teacher Confidence and Skills in Delivering PE

  • Invest in Staff Training. Provide continuous professional development (CPD) for teachers to improve their confidence and ability to deliver high-quality PE lessons.

Most PE training providers can deliver staff CPD online or in-person, and should make the training bespoke for your particular school requirements.

  • Specialist Coaching. Hire specialist sports coaches to work alongside teachers, enhancing their skills and ensuring a lasting impact even after the funding ends.

As each half-term progresses, we recommend having a hand-over period where the teacher gradually takes over the lead role in the PE lessons with the sports coach observing and feeding back.

2. Build Long-term Infrastructure

  • Upgrade Facilities. Use PE and Sport Premium to improve sports facilities (e.g., playground markings, multi-use games areas, or indoor equipment) to encourage active lifestyles.
  • Invest in Equipment. Purchase durable, multi-purpose sports equipment that supports a range of physical activities and can be used by multiple year groups.

NB: This particular funding must not be used for capital expenditure.  If in doubt about what is and isn’t regarded as ‘capital’, check with your school business manager.

3. Foster an Active School Culture

  • Promote Daily Physical Activity. Integrate physical activity into the school day through initiatives like the Daily Mile or active playtimes.
  • Engage Families and Communities. Encourage parents to participate in active lifestyles alongside their children with these PE at Home resources to promote a whole-community approach to health and fitness.
Using PE and Sport Premium to enrich PE - lesson plan example

4. Broaden the Range of Activities Offered

  • Introduce Diverse Sports. Offer activities beyond traditional team sports (e.g., yoga, dance, or fitness) to engage children who may not enjoy conventional PE.
  • Inclusive PE. Ensure opportunities for all pupils, including those with disabilities or those who may struggle in mainstream sports, to participate and excel.
Using PE and Sport Premium to enrich PE - PE at Home resource example

5. Focus on Long-term Health and Well-being

  • Promote Mental Health. Include activities that link physical activity to mental well-being.  Here are some well-being resources to start the journey of checking and supporting the mental health of your pupils.
  • Educate on Lifestyle Choices. Teach children about healthy eating, hydration, and the importance of regular exercise as part of the curriculum.

We recommend using a small portion of your funding to purchase a range fresh fruit for your pupils to try that they might not have tried before, such as kiwi-fruit, pomegranate and blueberries.

This blog offers an interesting insight into Physical Literacy (our relationship with movement and physical activity throughout life) and the roles that teachers and parents play in embedding a healthy lifestyle into our children.

6. Strengthen Links with Local Clubs and Initiatives

  • Collaborate with Local Clubs. Create partnerships with local sports clubs. This will provide pathways for talented pupils and introduce children to community sports opportunities. Most local sports clubs would be delighted to promote their community provision within your school.
  • Link to National Campaigns. Participate in national initiatives like School Games, Change4Life or sports festivals to boost engagement and raise the profile of physical activity.  A rounders, netball or football game against a neighbouring school could be a great start.

7. Embed Sustainability

  • Plan for Longevity. Focus on projects that will benefit the school beyond the funding period. Examples include upskilling staff or creating regular events and competitions that are easy to repeat.
  • Pupil Leadership. Train pupils as ‘Sports Leaders’ to support activities, fostering leadership skills and creating a legacy of peer-led physical activity.

These strategies align with the Department for Education’s guidance on ensuring the funding leads to measurable and sustained improvements. Prioritising teacher development, inclusivity, and a long-term active curriculum will ensure the PE and Sport Premium has a lasting impact.

All schools that qualify for the PE & Sports Premium are required to publish their PE spending and impact.  This could be used as a tool to regularly assess participation rates and the development of your PE Curriculum. You can also showcase the success of your initiatives here. Here are examples and templates for creating this report.

And, as always, you are welcome to contact us for support and advice with all things PE!