Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase access to football coaching in schools for boys and girls.

Schools can organise and deliver a diverse and challenging physical education (PE) and school sport offer which best suits the needs of their pupils. Factors influencing that decision include the spaces available for sports, along with available equipment.

Where schools want to provide specific sports, they can draw on support from the relevant national governing body, for example the Football Association and other footballing bodies offer a wide range of resources, age-appropriate guidance and advice for delivering football in schools.

On 8 March 2023, the Department announced over £600 million in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years for the primary PE and sport premium, and £57 million up to March 2025 for the Opening School Facilities programme. Schools can use this funding to increase provision and raise the quality of sports such as football.