1. The Government responded to the Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report, indicating that the PE curriculum will now be revisited and reimagined, including to emphasise the importance of 2 hours of PE a week for all pupils. In addition, schools will be encouraged to deliver a new core enrichment offer covering five key areas including sport, and aligned to the forthcoming PE and School Sport Partnerships Network. More information about this is expected to be provided in a new Enrichment Framework soon. We responded to welcome a new era for PE, school sport and play, and are clear in our belief the new Network (the tender for which has now been delayed into early 2026) can play a vital role in increasing activity levels

2. December saw the publication of the new National Youth Strategy, after a period of consultation and co-production with young people. We were pleased to see the Strategy recognises the role physical activity can play in supporting a generation faced with a number of challenges, and commits to taking action including through the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, a national campaign to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity, and a new Youth Policy Network to embed youth voice in policy making across the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

3. With schools preparing for new restrictions on branded items of uniform, and as the rollout of free breakfast clubs in primary schools continues, we are pleased to see new guidance in both areas recognises the importance of physical activity. Information for schools about uniform and PE kits highlights some schools have introduced active uniforms to encourage movement and physical activity throughout the day. Meanwhile guidance on breakfast clubs informs primary schools of the opportunity to use them to increase access to enrichment activities, including sports and physical activities. Elsewhere, the Department for Education also updated on changes to Ofsted inspections and future school profiles, which are expected to be rolled out over the next year.

4. In Parliament, our work to highlight the importance of physical activity included holding a roundtable on defining and improving equal access for girls, to help address inequalities which persist in participation levels. Held in partnership with Women in Sport, we were pleased to bring together leading voices from across the political spectrum to explore how we can support all girls, including those at risk of missing out. We have also shared insights with All-Party Parliamentary Groups including those on Sport and Physical Activity, and Play, and continued to advocate for change as the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill has progressed through Parliament, including debating amendments on physical activity and school sport.

5. With the political party conferences taking place in the Autumn, we held events at Labour and Conservative conferences to explore the impact a nation of active and well schools could make on children’s wellbeing and life chances. Both sessions were chaired by members of our Youth Board, and we were delighted to be joined by Natasha Irons MP and Ama Agbeze in Liverpool, and Nigel Huddleston MP and Luke Evans MP in Manchester, amongst other speakers, to explore their ideas for change.

6. Other Government strategies released included the Child Poverty Strategy, which highlighted less than half of children are achieving the recommended 60 active minutes a day (read our response to the latest Active Lives Children and Young people survey), and the Men’s Health Strategy, which reflected on the role of sport in health and emphasised the contribution new School Sports Partnerships can make in providing all children with opportunities to be active. Meanwhile, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport launched the Let’s Move campaign to encourage families to be active all year round, and the Department for Health and Social Care is exploring how to deal with rising levels of childhood obesity.

7. As we look ahead to 2026, a lot of activity is already on the horizon. From the release of the new Enrichment Framework to the launch of the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, and with a schools white paper expected covering reform to the SEND system, we can expect another busy year ahead. As ever, we’ll bring you highlights, analysis and more. In the meantime, if you have any questions please contact [email protected]