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
5 results
Clear
13 Recommendation Rejected
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
We recommend that a statutory duty be placed on local authorities to provide sporting and...
We recommend that a statutory duty be placed on local authorities to provide sporting and leisure facilities in their communities. We further recommend that, as part of the wider increase in spending on sport and recreation, the Government provide councils … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation for a statutory duty on local authorities to provide sporting facilities, stating it is unnecessary and burdensom. It highlights existing commitments of £400 million and Sport England's £250 million investment for facilities, but not tied to the duty.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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20 Recommendation Rejected
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
We recommend that the Government legislate to require local authorities and housing associations to remove...
We recommend that the Government legislate to require local authorities and housing associations to remove unnecessary “No Ball Games” signs, to make public spaces more usable for children’s play. (Recommendation, Paragraph 59)
Government Response
The government supports the removal of unnecessary 'No Ball Games' signs but rejects legislating to require it, stating this is ultimately a decision for Local Authorities.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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26 Recommendation Rejected
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
We recommend that the Government make physical education a core subject within the national curriculum.
We recommend that the Government make physical education a core subject within the national curriculum. (Recommendation, Paragraph 76)
Government Response
The government rejects making physical education a core subject, opting instead to focus on improving quality through curriculum reform and targeted support to avoid legislative complexity.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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37 Conclusion Rejected
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
Increasing women’s participation in sport depends not only on opportunities to play, but also on...
Increasing women’s participation in sport depends not only on opportunities to play, but also on visibility and representation. Evidence shows that when women’s sport is regularly broadcast, especially on free‑to‑air TV, girls are more likely to feel inspired and motivated … Read more
Government Response
The government explains that intervening to mandate a dedicated broadcast slot through Article 48 is technically problematic and would not benefit women's football, noting that an independent review did not recommend this approach, effectively rejecting the implied action.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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38 Recommendation Rejected
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
We recommend that the Government intervene in discussions between the Premier League, Women’s Professional Leagues...
We recommend that the Government intervene in discussions between the Premier League, Women’s Professional Leagues Limited, English Football League and Football Association to ensure that women’s football is exempt from the restrictions on broadcasting in the 3pm on Saturday slot. … Read more
Government Response
The government rejected the recommendation, explaining that Article 48 is an opt-in statute that NGBs can manage without government intervention, and its removal would not benefit women’s football but rather crowd the broadcast schedule further.
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