New report out on the Primary PE & Sport Premium

The Department for Education (DfE) has released the findings of research that has examined the impact of the Government’s PE and Sport Premium investment for primary schools. The report can be found here.

The findings highlight that 86 per cent of schools reported they are using the premium to up skill and train existing staff. There has also been a large increase in those schools using external sport coaches with an increase 37 per cent to 82 per cent of schools.

Nearly 80 per cent of responding teachers thought that the Premium had increased participation for all children.

Baroness Sue Campbell, Chair of the Youth Sport Trust, said:

“The figures released today show extremely encouraging signs that the PE and Sport Premium funding is improving the quality of PE in primary schools and making a real difference to the lives of young people.

“High quality PE and sport at primary schools is so important as it can offer a positive first experience of physical activity that helps develop the fundamental movement skills that lead to lifelong participation.”

Baroness Campbell also commented:

“This funding is clearly having a positive impact and it is crucial that this continues. Schools should be using the investment in sustainable solutions and I firmly believe that means investing in existing teaching staff or ensuring that staff are developed professionally.

“For those schools that are using this funding to hire in services through external providers within school hours I would urge them to consider how this will continue to benefit them in two, three or four years time – how sustainable is this approach should investment from any source come to an end or if their own staff are not developed in that time?

“These figures do though show the important role that coaches can play in extra-curricular activities with over 90 per cent of schools using them to extend provision outside of the school day. This can not only support school to club links, but also enhances the important role that schools can play in local communities.”

Other key findings from the DfE report include:

• 86% of schools reported using the premium to up skill and train existing staff.
• Changes reported by more than two thirds of schools included buying new equipment (76%), providing more extra-curricular activities (74%), and employing a new sports coach (67%).
• 70% per cent of schools reported making changes to who delivered curricular PE lessons as a result of the funding.
• Of those who had made changes to their curricular PE staffing, the use of external sport coaches had increased from 37 per cent to 82 per cent of schools, and the use of specialist PE teachers had increased from 22 per cent to 54 per cent of schools. The use of School Sport Partnerships Co-ordinators had also increased from 9 per cent to 29 per cent of schools.
• 64% per cent of schools reported making changes to who delivered their extra-curricular PE and sport as a result of the premium. Of those who had, the use of external sport coaches had increased from 56 per cent to 91 per cent of schools; and the use of specialist PE teachers from 26 per cent to 47 per cent of schools.
• The vast majority of schools (91%) reported that due to the funding there had been an increase in the quality of PE teaching, with 9 per cent reporting it had stayed the same.
• Sixty-seven per cent of schools reported offering a wider range of sports during curricular time whilst 77 per cent reported doing so during extra-curricular time. On average an additional three sports were offered in both curricular and extra-curricular time compared to the year prior to the premium.

You may wish to visit the Youth Sport Trusts Government Funding Section to get advice on how best to use your Primary PE & Sport Premium investment.