Primary PE and School Sport Premium

October 2026 Update: Funding Amounts and Payment Dates Confirmed

The Department for Education has now published the Conditions of Grant for the Primary PE and Sport Premium for the 2026/27 academic year, confirming exactly how much schools will receive, when payments will be made and the reporting requirements for the year ahead.

Following the Government's announcement in July that £150 million would be made available for 2026/27, schools can now calculate their individual allocation.

How much PE and Sport Premium will schools receive in 2026/27?

For the 2026/27 academic year, funding will be calculated using the number of pupils in Years 1 to 6 recorded in the January 2026 census.

Schools with 17 or more eligible pupils will receive:

£6,240 plus £10 per pupil

Schools with 16 or fewer eligible pupils will receive:

£390 per pupil

When will schools receive their PE and Sport Premium funding?

The DfE has also confirmed the payment dates for 2026/27:

• Maintained schools: funding will be paid to local authorities on 30 October 2026.
• Academies: funding will be paid on 9 November 2026.
• NMSS: funding will be paid on 18 December 2026.

What are the spending and reporting requirements?

The purpose of the funding remains to help schools make additional and sustainable improvements to PE, sport and physical activity for primary-aged pupils.

Importantly, schools must spend their 2026/27 allocation within the academic year. Unused funding cannot be carried forward beyond 31 July 2027.

All eligible schools must also complete the DfE's digital expenditure reporting return. This will become available in June 2027 and must be completed by 5pm on 31 July 2027.

Schools must also publish a report on their website by 31 July 2027, setting out how the funding has been spent, the impact it has had and how improvements will be sustained.

How Did We Get Here? A Brief Overview of the Previous Funding Model

Since 2013, the Primary PE and Sport Premium has provided ring-fenced funding directly to primary schools to improve the quality of PE, physical activity and school sport.

The funding has enabled schools to make long-term improvements by investing in areas such as:

• Improving teachers' confidence and subject knowledge through CPD.
• Purchasing PE equipment and resources.
• Expanding extra-curricular clubs and competitions.
• Increasing participation in physical activity throughout the school day.
• Developing sustainable improvements that benefit pupils year after year.

Schools have also been required to publish details of how the funding has been spent and complete the sports premium digital reporting tool, demonstrating how they have implemented the funding in their school and the impact it has had on pupils and staff.

For many schools, the Primary PE and Sport Premium has become an essential part of their annual planning and budgeting.

The Government Announces a New Direction

In May 2026, the Government announced the biggest change to school sport funding since the premium was introduced.  Rather than continuing to provide annual funding directly to primary schools, the Government confirmed it would invest more than £1 billion over the next three years into a completely new approach to PE and school sport.

This new investment includes:

• A national PE and School Sport Partnerships Network.
• Investment in improving school sports facilities.
• Funding to strengthen teacher development and local support.
• Transition funding for primary schools during the changeover period.

The announcement marked the beginning of the end for the existing Primary PE and Sport Premium, with funding moving towards a more coordinated national system.

What Are the New PE and School Sport Partnerships?

One of the biggest changes is the introduction of the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network.  Instead of schools receiving annual funding to spend directly on their PE and school sport needs, the new partnerships aim to provide coordinated support across local areas.

Although full details are still being developed, the Government has said the partnerships will focus on:

• High-quality professional development for teachers.
• Greater collaboration between schools.
• Stronger links with local sports clubs and community organisations.
• Increased opportunities for competitive sport.
• Support targeted at schools and pupils who need it most.
• A more joined-up approach from primary through to secondary education.

The intention is to ensure every child has access to high-quality PE and school sport, regardless of where they live.

What Changed on 9 July 2026?

Following feedback from schools, PE organisations and education leaders, the DfE announced further changes on 9 July 2026.  The most significant update was an increase in transition funding.  Originally, the Government had allocated £100 million to support schools during 2026/27. This has now been increased by 50% to £150 million.

For many primary schools, this means an estimated allocation of around £8,000 during the 2026/27 academic year.

The Government also confirmed that:

• The rollout of the new Partnerships Network will begin later than originally planned.
• Schools will continue to receive transition funding throughout 2026/27.
• Updated Conditions of Grant will be published in September 2026.
• Individual school funding allocations will be confirmed in October 2026.
• The national delivery partner will be appointed before the partnerships begin operating in 2027.

These changes provide schools with greater certainty while giving the Government additional time to establish the new system.

So, Is Sports Premium Funding Continuing?

This is probably the question we are being asked most often. The short answer is yes, but not in the same way. The existing Primary PE and Sport Premium is coming to an end.

However, schools will continue to receive funding during the 2026/27 academic year through the Government's transition arrangements while the new partnership model is established.

So, although the traditional funding model is ending, schools are not losing funding immediately. Instead, the Government is providing transitional support before the new Partnerships Network takes over.

What About the Sports Premium Digital Reporting Tool?

Schools will still need to complete the sports premium digital reporting tool for the current funding period. The DfE has indicated that reporting requirements will continue during the transition, although the process has been simplified to reduce workload.

Schools will also be asked to provide information that helps shape future support through the new Partnerships Network.  As always, schools should continue collecting evidence of how funding has improved teaching, participation and pupil outcomes. 

What Does This Mean for Schools?

Although the announcements represent a significant change in how school sport will be funded, there is no need for schools to make sudden changes to their PE curriculum or extra-curricular provision.  Instead, schools should continue to focus on delivering high-quality PE while preparing for the transition.

Over the coming year, schools should:

• Continue delivering a broad and balanced PE curriculum.
• Invest transition funding in more sustainable improvements.
• Continue supporting staff through professional development.
• Complete the required reporting for current funding.
• Keep up to date with further Government guidance as details of the Partnerships Network are confirmed.

The increased transition funding announced in July will provide welcome reassurance to many schools concerned about the original proposals and give leaders greater confidence in planning provision for the 2026/27 academic year.

How The PE Hub Can Support Your School

As schools plan for the year ahead and how to use their sports premium funding 26/27, our focus remains exactly the same: helping teachers deliver enjoyable, high-quality PE lessons and giving PE leaders the tools they need to plan, monitor and demonstrate the impact of their provision.

We'll continue to update this article as further guidance is released, helping schools stay informed throughout the transition to the new funding arrangements.