Amendments debated included:

• Amendment 492, which called for a curriculum review on how the levels of physical activity recommended by the Chief Medical officer can form part of PE provision within schools
• Amendment 502H, which called for a new national strategy for PE and sport in schools
• Amendment 502J, which called for a curriculum review of PE and school sport

In debating these amendments, Peers were keen to highlight the important role of physical activity within schools and demonstrated a crossbench consensus to make this a priority. Speeches delivered included from:

• Lord Holmes of Richmond, who described the ongoing physical and mental wellbeing crisis, calling for daily physical activity in response and highlighting the role this could play in supporting this generation.
• Lord Moynihan, who argued PE is a cornerstone in young people’s development including for health, resilience, teamwork and confidence, calling for enhanced and continuous teacher training to deliver a curriculum shaped by progressive development, embedding inclusive practices and embracing non-traditional sports, dance, outdoor recreation and cross-curricular activities.
• Baroness Sater, who highlighted her role on the Sport, Health and Wellbeing Select Committee in 2023 which called for a long-term, cross government plan to embed physical activity and wellbeing across education, reiterating that call and reflecting the opportunity to integrate PE with other subjects to make it a more accessible and holistic part of school life.
• Baroness Evans, who cited evidence showing physically active children perform better academically, with higher levels of concentration and better behaviour in class, and argued sport can reduce anxiety and depression.
• Lord Storey, who referenced the impact of PE and sport in supporting children and young people’s health, for working together and understanding each other, as well as the potential to use sport to energise children before the school day to support their learning.
• Lord Addington, who spoke of the importance of linking school sport to community provision, and called for improved working across departments to deliver an effective approach, referencing the potential of school sports partnerships.
• The Earl of Effingham, who summarised research showing children are unhappier and unhealthier, with sport and activity in schools a necessity to respond to the digital landscape.

Responding for the Government, Baroness Smith of Malvern shared a number of relevant updates, including:

• The Prime Minister’s announcement in June will lead to the establishment of a new PE and School Sport Partnership Network, which will:
  • Build stronger links between schools, local clubs and national governing bodies
  • Identity and remove barriers to participation in PE and school sport, particularly for less active children, including girls and pupils with special educational needs and disabilities

• The Government’s support for Inclusion 2028 (delivered by the Youth Sport Trust), upskilling teachers to deliver high-quality, inclusive PE, school sport and physical activity to pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, which will be an important theme for the national approach.
• Ongoing work between the Department for Education, Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Health and Social Care, in engaging with the sector to co-design the new partnerships, including by meeting with educational organisations and national governing bodies of sport.
• Market engagement activity from next week to explore the procurement of a national delivery partner to design, implement and manage this new network from summer 2026. This phase will shape the scope and scale of delivery, with the intention for the national partner to distribute a significant budget each year to pay for targeted provision in local areas.
• A new Enrichment Framework, which will be developed by the end of the year and will highlight best practice and consider how benchmarks and tools can support schools to plan strategic enrichment offers, including making use of programmes to increase access to sport and arts.
• The ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review, which will be published in the autumn and is considering subject-specific issues, including PE.

You can read the debate in full including the Minister’s response here.

Whilst these amendments were withdrawn without a vote and therefore will not be incorporated into the Bill itself, the Minister’s comprehensive response and positive update shows there is momentum in this space and many relevant opportunities in progress which could bolster children’s physical activity levels through PE, sport and play.

We will of course share further updates in due course, however if you have any questions in the meantime please contact [email protected]