Game On: Community and school sport

Culture, Media and Sport Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 28 Nov 2024 Parliament page
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is to examine the health of sport in local communities and schools and whether more can be done to sustain and grow sporting opportunities for all. The inquiry will look at the funding available for sport in the community, how volunteers can be better … Read more
33 Recommendations
16 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
5 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 12 events
26 Jun
2026
Report published
3 Jun
2026
Correspondence
20 Apr
2026
Report published
16 Jul
2025
Oral evidence
8 Jul
2025
Correspondence
1 Jul
2025
Correspondence
17 Jun
2025
Correspondence
17 Jun
2025
Correspondence
3 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
22 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
25 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
25 Feb
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
16 Jul 2025
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Adam Conant · Department for Culture, Media and Sport Catherine McKinnell MP · Department for Education Matthew Hopkinson · Department for Education Stephanie Peacock MP · Department for Culture, Media and Sport
3 Jun 2025
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Councillor Peter Mason · Local Government Association Huw Edwards · UKactive Robert Sullivan · Football Foundation Tim Hollingsworth OBE · Sport England
22 Apr 2025
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Jon Cockcroft · Bowls England Jordan Letts · Northampton Saints Foundation Kate Stephens · Chance to Shine Paige Cronje · SportCheer England Scott Lloyd · Lawn Tennis Association Stewart Kellett · Basketball England
25 Mar 2025
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Andy Taylor · Active Partnerships Anna Scott-Marshall · ParalympicsGB Emily Robinson · London Sport Lisa Wainwright MBE · Sport and Recreation Alliance Mark Lawrie · StreetGames Sarah Kaye · Sported Stephanie Hilborne OBE · Women in Sport
25 Feb 2025
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Ali Oliver MBE · Youth Sport Trust Alistair Patrick-Heselton Anna Hopkin MBE Montell Douglas
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - Game On: Community and school sport HC 593 20 Apr 2026 49 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
6 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
We recommend that the Government requires Sport England and other public funders to further simplify...
We recommend that the Government requires Sport England and other public funders to further simplify and standardise funding application processes to make them more accessible for grassroots organisations. This should include piloting alternative application formats such as video or interview‑based … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for accessibility, stating Sport England continuously improves processes, has introduced the Movement Fund, and will launch a new platform in 2026/27 to further enhance the applicant experience.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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15 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
We ask the Government to set out in its response to our report the measures...
We ask the Government to set out in its response to our report the measures it intends to take to relieve any adverse effects on sporting facilities from its recent business rate changes. We further recommend that the Government undertake … Read more
Government Response
The government details existing measures, including a £4.3 billion support package and new lower multipliers, to mitigate the impact of business rate changes on sporting venues. However, it does not commit to undertaking a new, full impact assessment, stating only that evidence was considered during policy design.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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28 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
The Government should publish a plan to strengthen initial teacher training in physical education and...
The Government should publish a plan to strengthen initial teacher training in physical education and physical activity and ongoing professional development for all teachers, particularly at primary level. (Recommendation, Paragraph 80)
Government Response
The government outlines the planned PE and School Sport Partnership Network to support teacher training and professional development, and commits to a review of the ITTECF in 2027 to consider amendments, partially addressing the call for a plan.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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42 Recommendation Accepted in Part
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
The Government should publish a comprehensive volunteering policy for sport and physical activity.
The Government should publish a comprehensive volunteering policy for sport and physical activity. This should include linking volunteering to career development and skills pathways; establishing national awards or recognition schemes for volunteers in community sport; expanding flexible and inclusive volunteering … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomes the role of volunteers and agrees to streamline administration, outlining ongoing work with Sport England, CIMSPA, and ODI to develop an open data standard and a new national workforce register.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Government Response AI assessment · 49 of 33 classified
Accepted 29
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 6
Deferred 3
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 5
Total 33 recs + 16 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
3 Jun 2026 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, relating to PE and School Sport Partnerships, 22 May 2026
Parliament page
8 Jul 2025 To committee Letter from Huw Edwards, Chief Executive, ukactive, regarding oral evidence follow-up, dated 26 June 2025
Parliament page
1 Jul 2025 To committee Letter from Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive, Sport England, regarding oral evidence follow-up, dated 25 June 2025
Parliament page
17 Jun 2025 To committee Letter from Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive, Football Foundation, regarding oral evidence follow-up , dated 5 June 2025
Parliament page
17 Jun 2025 To committee Letter from Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, regarding the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme, dated 9 June 2025
Parliament page