School obesity concerns over new PE funding plan

Plans to end a scheme providing sports funding for primary schools could result in an increase in obesity and mental health issues, teachers have said.

The Department for Education (DfE) is cutting the 2012 Olympic legacy sports grant which is paid directly to primary schools each year.

It plans to replace it with a Sports Partnership Network which the government said aims to put an "end to the one-size fits all model that has failed too many children for too long".

Christopher Tribble, head teacher at Honiton Primary and president of Devon National Association of Headteachers Union (NAHT) said it was "the wrong move at a time when there is an obesity and mental health crisis".

The £320m PE Premium was introduced in 2013 to build on the legacy of the 2012 London Olympic Games in a bid to inspire a new generation to get active from an early age.

It will be replaced with a new Sports Partnerships Network worth £193m a year which will cover both both primary and secondary schools.

Tribble said it would mean a 40% reduction in funding.

"We've got less money being spread around more schools - I can't see how provision will increase and therefore the net result is likely to be worsening outcomes for mental health.

"Obesity needs to be tackled in the primary school to set pupils on the right road around health so we are not passing a very expensive problem onto the NHS in future years."

Devon Schools Leadership Services (DSLS) said the decision was concerning and would result in a further reduction in funding for Devon's schools which are already less well funded than other local authority areas.

It said: "The timing of the announcement is too late in terms of the budget planning cycle and, in many cases, will force schools into budget deficits as a result of ongoing financial commitments with third party providers such as sports coaches."

Sports specialist at Honiton Primary, Adam Watson's post has been funded by the PE premium for the past nine years and he is concerned his job will be in jeopardy in January 2027 when the funding comes to an end.

He said: "The news of the potential loss in funding is disastrous for those in my position.

"I want to ensure that those who are making these decisions think very carefully about how the funding is going to be redistributed to ensure schools that allow wider opportunities for children are not penalised for doing so."

James Bowen, assistant general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: "Many leaders are now facing a situation where they are having to rethink their long-term budget planning, including commitments that may have already been made."

The new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network will support secondary as well as primary schools and will be operational from spring 2027.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "Every child deserves to be active, healthy and happy – whatever their background or ability. Our new PE Partnerships Network delivers that, with tailored support for schools, expert coaches, top-up swimming lessons and more extra-curricular opportunities.

"We're increasing our one-off transition payment from £100 million to £150 million, on top of £530 million for the new Network and around £200 million in capital funding. Taken together, that's over £1 billion for PE and sport – more than the £960 million a flat-cash Premium would have delivered."

Active Cornwall said it recognised the government announcement "creates uncertainty for schools and organisations that have been planning activity and investment for the Autumn term based on previous funding arrangements".

It added it was in discussions regarding the future model alongside partners including the Youth Sport Trust and the Association for Physical Education, "to better understand the implications of the announcement and the opportunities presented by the future investment".

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