Morning, Thursday, 4th December 2025
Online
This conference will consider the future of the PE curriculum and priorities for sports provision for children and young people in England, looking also at how physical activity can support wider educational, social, and health outcomes.
It will be an opportunity to discuss findings from the ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review, following the expected publication of its final report due in Autumn, as well as the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s Game On: Community and school sport inquiry, and considering wider government policy allocation of funding from the 2024 Autumn Budget and the forthcoming Spending Review, alongside the NHS 10-Year Plan.
Sessions will assess priorities for addressing variation in access to high quality PE and sport, with discussion on issues for curriculum time and balancing the dual aims of participation and excellence. Attendees will look at what is needed to improve sports infrastructure and equipment provision, including resource distribution and next steps for the PE and Sport Premium. Workforce development and skills will also be discussed, including recruitment, adequacy of teacher training for PE, and potential integration of new technologies and methods to support training and provision.
Further discussion will explore strategies for strengthening the links between schools and external sports bodies, community groups, and independent educational institutions, reflecting on lessons learnt from successful partnerships such as the MCC Foundation’s Hub Programme and initiatives such as flag football and inclusive rugby programmes. There will also be a focus on how schools can better support the participation of marginalised groups such as girls, SEND students, and those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, looking at maximising the potential for integration of innovative and inclusive sporting activities and addressing barriers to uptake.
With the agenda currently in the drafting stage, overall areas for discussion include:
- PE curriculum reform:
- PE in the ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review - curriculum time and mandatory PE
- increasing participation with new and inclusive sports - promoting participation whilst supporting excellence
- integrating nutrition and wellbeing education
- the role of PESSPA:
- evaluation of data on benefits of physical activity, PESSPA, and physical literacy - work of the chief medical officer and physical activity recommendations
- school sport as preventative health - synergies with wider policy such as Active Travel and the 10 Year Health Plan
- funding, infrastructure and regulation:
- overall inequalities and disparities of facilities and equipment - planning reforms and infrastructure provision
- impacts of the Autumn Budget 2024 and phase 1 of the 2025 Spending Review - differences in allocation of school budgets
- next steps for the Primary PE and Sport Premium and public funding streams, such as UKActive Opening Schools Facilities
- collaboration:
- sharing practice amongst schools - connections with external bodies, community organisations and after-school clubs
- role of local authorities and devolution - inspiring individuals with sports leaders
- inclusion:
- barriers to uptake, body image issues, and sports uniform design
- workforce issues:
- training and qualifications for PE teachers at primary and secondary - the role of technology and AI
- considering wider workforce and recruitment constraints - stress and burnout
