Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to support the playing of rugby in schools in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.

Physical education (PE) is a compulsory subject within the national curriculum from key stage 1 to key stage 4. It is for schools to decide which sports to choose for pupils both in PE and during extracurricular opportunities. The national curriculum does not specify what schools should provide, but rugby is included as an example of a sport that can provide important elements of the PE and Sport national curriculum programme of study in key stage 3 and 4.

Where schools want to provide specific sports, they can draw on support from the relevant national governing body. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) offers a wide range of resources and age appropriate guidance and advice for delivering rugby to primary and secondary age pupils. The RFU has been conducting a review into the future of rugby in schools, and the department looks forward to seeing the outcomes of this work and engaging with them accordingly.

On 8 March 2023, the department announced over £600 million in funding for the primary PE and sport premium in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years, and up to £57 million up to March 2025 for the ‘Opening School Facilities’ programme. Schools can use this funding to increase their sport provision such as rugby to a higher standard.