Over the past year, led by Professor Becky Francis CBE, the Curriculum and Assessment Review has received evidence from a wide range of stakeholders, and delivered deep-dive sessions on a series of subjects, including PE. The Youth Sport Trust and afPE have contributed to the Review throughout, including through attendance at the PE deep dive, and are pleased to see the sector’s insights inform the Review’s findings and subsequent Government response.

Following the publication of the Review’s report, the Department for Education has responded to indicate how the Review’s recommendations will be incorporated into the revised curriculum. Key measures include:

Physical Education (PE)

• Revisiting the aims of compulsory PE across all four key stages to support the development of fundamental movement skills, and participation in sport and physical activity, highlighting the role of PE in supporting pupils’ wellbeing and educational outcomes.
• Ensuring the Key Stage 4 curriculum has a clear purpose for pupils so schools recognise the need to protect two hours of PE time for all pupils throughout their time at school.
• Considering how swimming, dance, and outdoor and adventurous activities are presented to ensure they support quality teaching and progression.
• Working with Ofqual and stakeholders to review the PE GCSE subject content to make sure the purpose is distinct from the Key Stage 4 curriculum, with an emphasis on supporting wider participation including for pupils with disabilities.
• Adding further detail to content on dance within PE, and included within the remit of new PE and School Sports Partnerships to build capability and confidence in the teaching of dance.

Enrichment

• Introducing a new core enrichment offer every school should aim to provide for all children, beyond the statutory curriculum. A new set of benchmarks will be developed alongside schools, colleges and sector experts, with the impact of national partners such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and Youth Sport Trust highlighted in delivering opportunities through partnership approaches. Schools will be expected to, at a minimum, deliver enrichment which provides access to sport, civic engagement, arts and culture, nature and adventure, and life skills to build resilience and opportunity.
• Providing information about schools’ enrichment opportunities in new school profiles, with Ofsted inspection toolkits updated to take into account the new enrichment benchmarks when revised next year.
• Emphasising the role of new PE and School Sports Partnerships to deliver high-quality curriculum PE, expand opportunities for extra-curricular sport and physical activity, and build strong links between schools, local clubs and National Governing Bodies of sport.
• Highlighting the role of civil society in working alongside schools and colleges to deliver high-quality enrichment, citing the commitment of organisations including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, National Youth Theatre and Youth Sport Trust in enabling schools and colleges to provide opportunities.

In addition, the Government’s response clarifies that the new curriculum will be implemented in full from September 2028, with the Government publishing the final revised national curriculum in full by spring 2027.

Commenting on the Review’s recommendations and Government’s response, Youth Sport Trust CEO Ali Oliver MBE said:

“I would like to thank Professor Francis and her Review Panel for the careful consideration they have given throughout to the importance of a balanced and relevant curriculum which equips children and young people for today and tomorrow, and values individual potential and wellbeing. As a charity, we have long campaigned for the fundamental role of movement, and physical activity in the education and development of children to be better understood and valued more highly. Throughout the Curriculum and Assessment Review, our sector has come together to emphasise the importance of more inclusive, accessible and contemporary provision across play, Physical Education and school sport.

“Movement has a central role in cognitive development and performance, physical activity is essential to health and wellbeing, while play and sport are invaluable contexts for social development and the acquisition of life skills. Today’s announcements respond to our call - PE and school sport are not optional extras, they must serve the needs of every child. A revitalised curriculum with refreshed aims and clear objectives for each key stage has the potential to build a progressive pathway which starts with the essentials of developing a positive relationship with movement in primary schools before extending choice, and responding to young people’s voice in the activities on offer in secondary schools. The outcome of the new curriculum must be to engage every child in a way that is meaningful, purposeful and sustained while complementing classroom-based learning with personal development and wellbeing.

“The impact of more active schools and high-quality PE is overwhelming in the evidence-base, and we are delighted to see this reflected in today’s response and commitments from the Department for Education. The new core enrichment entitlement giving every child access to sport supporting progress inside and outside the classroom, forging a sense of belonging and broadening horizons is warmly welcomed, and the place of this provision in assessing school standards, the quality of education, and informing parental choice has been missing for too long in maintained schools.

“We are optimistic today represents an important milestone on the journey to harnessing the importance and contribution of play, PE, daily physical activity and sport in building a nation of more active and well schools. We are excited to get going, and look forward to playing our part in realising the potential of what has been announced. Through a  joined-up approach connecting today’s report and recommendations with the new national PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, the Enrichment Framework and a National Youth Strategy, we can send a powerful message to young people and their families - their health, happiness, and success is a priority for our country.”

Kate Thornton-Bousfield, CEO of the Association for Physical Education (afPE) said:

"I am absolutely delighted with the publication of today's report, which I believe marks the beginning of a transformative journey towards a curriculum that meets the needs of all learners, fosters lifelong engagement in physical activity, and nurtures vital life skills. Crucially, the report calls for a redefinition of the aims and purpose of Physical Education, recognising its role as a catalyst for sustained participation in physical activity and enrichment. We welcome the recognition by Professor Francis and her colleagues that change is essential and the commitment to act by the Department for Education, and we are proud to have worked alongside sector partners to reach this pivotal moment. The opportunities ahead are both exciting and essential.

“afPE reaffirms that core PE is compulsory, irreplaceable, and must be protected. Examination PE, such as GCSE PE, Sports Studies, or Sports Science, is an optional academic pathway and must never replace the statutory entitlement to high-quality, physical PE for all learners. As a sector we are concerned by reduced PE time at Key Stage 4 and the growing influence of theoretical exam content on earlier PE stages. Core PE must remain focused on physical activity, skill development, and enjoyment, not academic study alone. We also highlight the underrepresentation of students with special educational needs (SEN) in PE qualifications. The current activity list lacks sufficient specialist options to support inclusive participation. afPE supports a review to expand and diversify the list, ensuring all students can thrive in both core and qualification PE. Inclusivity must be central to any reform. Every young person deserves meaningful access to Physical Education, regardless of ability or pathway.”

The two organisations will continue to work closely with the Department for Education and across the sector to make sure today’s announcements are the impetus for change. Meanwhile, aside from the Curriculum and Assessment Review, the Department for Education has recently initiated a market engagement process ahead of the introduction of a new PE and School Sport Partnership Network and is expected to soon publish a new Enrichment Framework. The new National Youth Strategy is also set to be released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport by the end of the year.