Primary PE & Sport Premium 2025–26: What PE Leads need to know
Primary PE & Sport Premium 2025–26: What PE Leads need to know
The Primary PE & Sport Premium continues to be a vital source of funding to help schools improve PE, sport and physical activity. The Department for Education has now published updated guidance and the 2025–26 Conditions of Grant. While the overall purpose remains the same, there are some important changes that PE leads need to be aware of.
The most notable update in the 2025–26 guidance is that funding will now be paid in two instalments, 50% in the autumn term and 50% in the spring term. This new payment schedule is designed to support better planning and consistent delivery throughout the academic year.
Here’s what else is new or clarified:
- Mandatory spending within the academic year – Schools must use the full allocation by 31st July 2026. There is no rollover of unspent funds.
- Digital expenditure reporting – Completing the online return is now mandatory, and published data must be accessible if shared directly from the digital form.
- Pooling across MATs – Multi-Academy Trusts can now pool the grant across their schools, as long as each school clearly benefits and reports its own impact. Transparency and accountability are key.
- Spending rules remain strict – Funds must support additional and sustainable improvements for all pupils. They cannot be used for core PE curriculum delivery, staff salaries, PPA cover, staff kit, capital projects (beyond minor “de minimis” items), or prepaying services into future years.
- Sustainable impact is emphasised – Schools are encouraged to focus on initiatives that leave a lasting legacy, such as staff training, wider pupil participation, and embedding physical activity across the school.
In addition, schools are encouraged to use tracking tools to monitor pupil progress, participation, and the impact of their PE and sport programmes. Guidance and resources from afPE can help PE leads ensure that funding is used effectively and outcomes are measurable. Visit the afPE Primary PE and Sport Premium Tracking Guidance for more information.
These updates aim to make funding usage clearer, more accountable and focused on sustainability, while offering some flexibility for MATs to coordinate spending effectively.
We’ll be exploring these changes in more detail at our PE Lead Network meeting on Tuesday, 18th November, where we’ll provide practical guidance on compliance, reporting, and making the most of your PE & Sport Premium funding. We’ll also cover how the updated Ofsted inspection framework affects PE, including expectations around curriculum intent, implementation, and impact and how PE and sport provision is evaluated during inspections.
For more information and to register, visit our event page: PE Lead Network Meeting – 18th November 2025.
