Select committee: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 29
4th Report - Game On: Community and school sport
Published 20 Apr 2026
Addressed to Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Game On: Community and school sport All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
We recommend that the Government issue guidance making clear that schools are expected to adopt PE kit and uniform policies that prioritise comfort, inclusivity and dignity—particularly for girls and pupils with protected characteristics. Schools should work directly with students to provide flexible clothing options, including guidance on sports bras, and take practical steps such as improving privacy in changing areas to reduce anxiety and encourage sustained participation in PE. The Government should also promote more practical, activity‑friendly school uniforms, such as allowing sportswear or trainers as standard, to ensure pupils can 55 move comfortably throughout the day. These measures would help reduce barriers to activity, lower costs for families and increase participation, particularly among girls. (Recommendation, Paragraph 86)
From: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, 4th Report - Game On: Community and school sport (HC 593), 20 April 2026
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 26 June 2026 (deadline 23 June 2026).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the report and sets out funding and policy measures on school and community sport, while declining a statutory duty on local authorities and not making PE a core subject.
- On school sport, the government says it is investing over £1 billion over three years, including £580 million for a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network, which it says will be "fully up and running from Spring 2027".
- On a statutory duty for local authorities to provide sport and leisure facilities, it "does not believe a statutory duty is necessary", citing its aim to reduce burdens on local government.
- On making PE a core national curriculum subject, it prefers curriculum reform and targeted support, an approach it says is "expected to deliver more meaningful impact without the complexity of legislative change".
- On a cross-government strategy, it points to its National Plan for Physical Activity, "due to be published later this year", and says it will set "clear, measurable objectives".