For PE Coordinators across the UK, funding is the constant elephant in the room. With the Primary PE and Sport Premium facing ongoing uncertainty, many schools are asking the same question: what happens next, and how do we plan for it?
While there is currently no confirmed decision beyond the 2024/25 academic year, the debate around PE funding continues.
1 – Use It or Lose It – But Be Smart About It
The biggest trap schools fall into? Panic spending in the final term to avoid losing their allocated funding. But let’s flip the script: What if instead of just ‘spending it,’ you used it as a force multiplier for the next 5 years?
✅ Think like an investor, not a spender – The best schools don’t just ‘buy’ things. They invest in game-changing initiatives that set them up for success. Could you build an in-house specialist PE team? Could you introduce a revolutionary physical literacy approach that changes how your school approaches movement?
✅ Strategic hires & partnerships – Instead of temporary fixes, schools that invest in long-term staff development and strategic coaching partnerships (like Future Stars Coaching) create lasting impact. What if your school had a PE provision so strong it became a selling point for parents choosing schools?
✅ Create a PE Legacy Plan – Rather than just using funding for short-term activities, how can you embed it into the school’s DNA? Schools that integrate PE into mental health initiatives, leadership development, and even academic performance strategies tend to attract funding from multiple streams—not just the PE Premium.
(Hint: Future Stars Coaching is already helping schools build exactly this kind of forward-thinking PE model.)
2️ – What If The Funding Disappears? How Elite PE Leaders Prepare for Any Scenario
PE funding is always at risk of change, so elite PE leads don’t wait for answers—they create their own solutions.
🔹 Monetise PE in New Ways – Some schools are starting to use their expertise to run community sports clubs, offer paid CPD to other schools, or build links with local businesses for sponsorship. Have you thought about turning PE into an income-generating asset for your school?
🔹 Turn Your School Into a ‘PE Centre’ – Schools that position themselves as ‘centres of excellence’—running inter-school sports leagues, hosting training days, or acting as community sport leaders—tend to find alternative funding sources.
🔹 Leverage Data to Justify PE’s Value – Schools that track attendance impact, mental health benefits, and academic performance improvements linked to PE are much more likely to retain funding from internal budgets if the Premium is cut.
3️ – The Future-Ready PE Blueprint – Are You Ahead or Behind?
To stay ahead, schools need to think about PE like a high-performing business. If your PE provision was a company, would it be thriving, innovative, and future-proofed—or would it be reactive and scrambling for survival?
Consider:
📌 Does your school have a 3-5 year PE roadmap?
📌 Are you fully using data to show PE’s impact on attendance, behaviour, and academic success?
📌 Is your PE offer something that sets your school apart in your community?
With PE playing such a vital role in children’s physical and mental well-being, future-proofing your provision isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. The schools that lead the way in innovation, partnerships, and strategic thinking will be the ones delivering the best possible PE experience for their pupils, no matter what funding changes come.
🔥 Want to make your PE programme untouchable? Future Stars Coaching is already helping schools create sustainable, impact-driven PE strategies. Get in touch to see how we can support your school with expert coaching, engaging sessions, and long-term planning.
