Girls Active National Reports 2026

The Girls Active Survey 2026 explored how children and young people experience PE, physical activity and sport, including their views on gender and participation.

These findings provide insight into the ways experiences, attitudes and social influences may shape perceptions of participation, as well as examining how access and the status afforded to girls’ and boys’ sport are experienced in school settings.

This year’s survey data shows a growing increase in agreement with the statement “some sports are for boys, and some sports are for girls” since 2023/24. The pattern was especially marked among children aged 7 to 9, with almost half of boys in this age group agreeing that some sports are only for boys.

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Key Findings:

41% of boys agreed that some sports are for boys and some are for girls.

25% of girls agreed that some sports are for boys and some are for girls.

48% of boys aged 7-9 agreed that some sports are only for boys.

47% of girls felt they had opportunities to participate in the same range of sports and activities as boys in PE.

56% of boys believed girls’ and boys’ sport were regarded as equally important, compared with 39% of girls.

The Girls Active National Reports 2026 are based on an online survey conducted between January and June 2026 with participants from 110 schools in England.