Primary schools in England are going to share an extra £150m per year sports funding until 2020, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced (6th February 2014).

The direct funding scheme for school sport, announced last year, is going to be extended for a further five years. Each year primary schools will continue to receive £8,000, plus £5 per pupil. The funding – the Primary School PE and Sport Funding – provides money directly to primary school head teachers.

It was announced last year as a two-year initiative to run until 2015-16, but Mr Cameron has said he wants to keep this funding for another five years – beyond the general election.

As well as promoting good health, Mr Cameron says, school sport has an important role in building “confidence and a sense of achievement”.

“Sport is so important because it encourages children to be active, lead a healthy lifestyle, make friends and, of course, have fun,” Mr Cameron said. “But quality school sport has benefits that spread right across the curriculum and beyond – it develops confidence and a sense of achievement, it teaches young people how to rise to a challenge, and nurtures the character and skills that will help them get on and succeed in life.”

Learning Away is aware that some local authorities are seeing an interest from primary schools wanting to spend this on developing outdoor learning, and we feel that there should be no reason why this funding could not be used to support the development of or even fund brilliant residentials too. They can, as as our evaluation evidence is beginning to demonstrate, provide all of the benefits listed by the Prime Minister.

Find out more on the Department for Education website.