The government is providing additional funding of £150 million per annum for academic years 2015 to 2016 and 2016 to 2017 to improve the provision of physical education (PE) and sport in primary schools. This funding – provided jointly by the Departments for Education, Health and Culture, Media and Sport – will be allocated to primary school headteachers.
On 6th February 2014 the Prime Minister, David Cameron committed to continue the funding for the Primary PE & Sport Premium until 2020.
This funding is ring-fenced and therefore can only be spent on provision of PE and sport in schools.
Eligible schools Funding for schools will be calculated by reference to the number of primary-aged pupils (between the ages of 5 and 11), as recorded in the annual schools census in January 2013.
Purpose of funding Schools must spend the additional funding on improving their provision of PE and sport, but they will have the freedom to choose how they do this.
Possible uses for the funding might include:
Accountability from September 2013, schools will be held to account over how they spend their additional, ring-fenced funding. Ofsted will strengthen the coverage of PE and sport within the ‘Inspectors’ handbook’ and supporting guidance so that both schools and inspectors know how sport and PE will be assessed in future as part of the school’s overall provision.
One year on, Ofsted will carry out a survey reporting on the first year’s expenditure of additional funding and its impact.
Schools are required to publish a summary of how their sports funding has been spent and what impact this has made on the provision of P.E and Sport within their school.