Government row breaks out over proposals to slash spending for PE in schools

"A major row between government departments has broken out after the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) proposed cutting all its funding for physical education in schools, the Guardian understands. The DHSC is now intending to restore the funding despite insisting privately for weeks that it would end its contribution, until the Guardian contacted the department. Ministers are understood to have overruled the cuts."

"The Department for Education (DfE) is also planning cuts to PE from its own budget, ahead of upcoming reforms in the next curriculum review. It is hoped that the reforms which will guarantee at least two hours of PE will involve partnerships with sports bodies that will deliver some efficiencies. But Whitehall sources had said the proposed cuts from DHSC and DfE combined had threatened the reforms and would undermine Keir Starmer's public commitments to more access to sports for schoolchildren."

"A proposal seen by the Guardian said DHSC, run by the health secretary, Wes Streeting, would end its entire contribution of around 60m from 2026/27. DfE is understood to be proposing cutting its own budget by a further 60m. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, is set to try and mediate the row over the coming days."

A major dispute erupted between government departments after the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) proposed ending its entire contribution of roughly £60m to school physical education from 2026/27. The Department for Education (DfE) is also planning to cut around £60m from its own PE budget ahead of curriculum reforms. Ministers have intervened and DHSC now intends to restore funding after previously indicating it would end the contribution. Darren Jones is set to mediate between departments. DHSC currently provides about a fifth of PE funding; the remainder comes from DfE and a small DCMS contribution. Cuts would threaten planned guarantees of two hours of PE and worsen child inactivity and obesity concerns.

Read at www.theguardian.com