Class of 2035

How sport can empower a generation to build a brighter tomorrow.

The Class of 2035 is a landmark policy and research report which explores the role that PE, sport and physical activity can and should play in young people’s education and development.

Through detailed insights from young people and over a year of consulting with experts across sport, health and education, the report shines a light on challenges facing young people today and maps out the long-term trends which could emerge following huge disruption to young people’s lives during the pandemic.

The Youth Sport Trust commissioned Foresight Factory to undertake this research to mark the charity’s 25th anniversary, in 2020. It follows the first edition of Class of 2035, published in 2015.

The report presents new insights from school-aged children, explore the macro forces which will drive change in young people’s lives and presents four possible scenarios for how young people’s engagement with sport and play may look by 2035.

In the best of these, every young person would be empowered through sport, leading to greater participation and improved health and wellbeing as well as driving social mobility and reducing inequality. In the worst-case scenario, a lack of recognition of the importance of sport may lead to greater numbers of young people becoming disengaged – leading to rising inequality and growing health concerns.

The Class of 2035 concludes with a number of policy and development recommendations aimed at achieving the best possible future for young people through sport.

Read the launch press release here.

How to access the report

Please use one of the two links on the right-hand side (desktop) or in the dropdown above (mobile).

If you are a teacher or a member of staff at a school you will be asked to login or register for an account, then you will be able to access the full report.

If you are not a teacher or a member of staff at a school please complete our short webform to request access to the report.

Class of 2035 report cover

The insights captured in this new report, commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of the Youth Sport Trust, will be essential to shaping how we deliver our mission in a rapidly changing world. Just as this report has been developed with input from a whole range of different voices, I hope that it will in turn be useful for any organisation or individual who shares our passion for using the power of sport to improve young people’s lives.

Ali Oliver MBE, CEO, Youth Sport Trust
Ali Oliver MBE
Published on 15 September 2021