PE and Sport Premium

The primary PE and sport premium was introduced in March 2013 to improve the provision of physical education and school sport in primary schools across England. The £150 million per year funding is provided jointly by the Departments of Education, Health and Culture, Media and Sports (DfE, DH, DCMS). The funding is allocated directly to primary schools and is ring-fenced. This means that it may only be spent on improving the provision of PE and sport in schools. In February 2014 the government committed to continue the funding until 2020.

In the 2016 Budget, Chancellor George Osbourne announced that revenue from the soft drinks industry levy will be used to double the primary school PE and sport premium from £160 million per year to £320 million per year from September 2017, to help schools support healthier, more active lifestyles. This additional funding will enable primary schools to make further improvements to the quality and breadth of PE and the sport they offer.  

In May 2026, the UK Government announced the phase-out of direct annual primary PE and Sport Premium payments and a £1 billion 3-year investment plan. A new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network is due to begin initial operations between November 2026-January 2027.