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New funding for primary schools is improving children’s PE skills and participation in sport, a new Ofsted report told us yesterday.

Ofsted undertook this survey of 22 schools previously identified as performing well in PE. It evaluates the effectiveness of the Primary PE and Sport Premium, which the government introduced to all primary schools in England in 2013 to build on the 2012 Olympic legacy. School leaders are able to choose how they spend their funding as long as it improves the quality and breadth of PE and sport.

One year since it was introduced, Ofsted finds that 22 schools visited by inspectors are making good use of the money. Most headteachers are spending their new funding in different ways, including training their teachers, employing sports coaches or specialist teachers to improve the quality of PE teaching and extending the range of sports on offer to children. Many of these 22 schools are also working with local sports clubs and other schools to provide improved PE teaching and more sporting opportunities for all pupils.

Inspectors found that as a result of the funding, pupils’ PE skills are improving and they are readily taking part in sport. However, headteachers told inspectors that they were given the money without clear advice on how it should be spent. They said they would welcome further guidance from the Department for Education to ensure that the benefits to pupils can be sustained over the long term.

Ofsted inspectors recommend to schools that they should look more carefully at ways that they can show the impact of the funding on improving PE and sport. They also say that schools should consider better ways of using the funding to improve pupils’ health and well-being - for example, to help tackle obesity.

Sean Harford, Ofsted National Director for Schools Policy, said:

'Sport has the power to transform young lives. It is encouraging that schools are using the Primary PE and Sport Premium effectively. This may unearth a future Olympic star, but more importantly it is allowing all children to fully take part in PE and enjoy a greater range of sports.

'This is an obvious boost to their health, but it also helps to form good character too. I have found that the best schools know that sport is not an add-on to the timetable, but is an integral part of a school’s ethos.'

To encourage more primary school aged children to play sport Ofsted recommends that schools should:

• ensure that plans set clear targets for showing how the new funding has improved PE and sports provision
• clearly show how the premium is making a difference to the quality of PE and sport in the school
• encourage those pupils who are less keen on PE and sport to take part and enjoy the activities
• establish links with local sports clubs
• introduce activities to allow their most able pupils to realise their full potential in PE and sport
• work with parents and carers, and local health agencies to promote pupils’ health and well-being, including tackling obesity
• not use the premium as an alternative means of funding existing PE or sports provisions.

The Ofsted report highlights some schools which have made the most of their Sport Premium. They include:

• The Orrets Meadow School on Merseyside uses its funding to develop its own specialist PE teacher and to employ a second specialist teacher from another school
• Sturton Church of England Primary School in Nottinghamshire introduced middle distance running which led to 225 runners taking part in a five kilometre event
• Wyken Croft Primary School in Coventry brought in training for some pupils who then organised lunchtime physical activities for others
• Arden Grove Infant and Nursery School in Norwich introduced dance for toddlers and Zumba classes for pupils, parents and carers
• Tylers Green First School encouraged active play at lunchtimes when “little leaders” were identified – it found that they showed they developed greater organisation and more concentration in their classroom work.

More details of these and 17 other schools are in the Ofsted report.

Notes to editors

1. The Primary PE and Sport Premium: good practice to maximise effective use of the funding is can be found under Associated resources.
2. The Primary PE and Sport Premium is worth £150 million to schools each year. It aims to improve the quality and breadth of PE and sport provision in primary schools.
3. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages in England. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.
4. Media can contact the Ofsted Press Office through 03000 130 415 or via Ofsted’s enquiry line 0300 123 1231 between 8.30am – 6.00pm Monday – Friday. Out of these hours, during evenings and weekends, the duty press officer can be reached on 07919 057 359.

Associated resources

• The PE and sport premium for primary schools: good practice to maximise effective use of the funding