St Helens School Sports reports on successful year as new programme launches
As it kicks off a new year of inclusive sports opportunities for local schools, the St Helens Borough Council's School Sport Programme is reporting on a highly successful 2025/26 programme, having offered opportunities for more than 13,000 children.
Article date: 5 October 2026
The School Sport Programme, delivered on behalf of the St Helens Association for Physical Education and Sports (SHAPES), combines the national School Games programme with local activity to support schools across the borough.
Between September 2025 and July 2026, the programme delivered:
- over 170 events for more than 13,000 participants
- 448 leadership opportunities for secondary leaders
- 228 primary pupils trained to lead activity at break and lunch time in their own schools
- Inaugural primary football league engaging 13 primary schools
- Free padel coaching sessions for 16 schools
- Thirty schools achieved a School Games Mark Award, recognising commitment to PE, sport and physical activity.
Looking ahead to this year's programme, there'll be a focus on more localised events, training for staff and development of young leaders, while piloting a whole school approach to physical activity in select schools.
Councillor Stephen Claybrook, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Heritage, said:
"It's been great to learn how our School Sport Programme is reaching schools across the borough, providing engaging sporting activities for all ages, boys and girls, and a joy to see that so many children are taking part.
"Being active is crucial in early development, builds confidence and gives children the best start in life. I'm especially proud of the young people who have taken up leadership roles, helping to manage inter-school events and leading activity for their friends and peers."
The council team also reported on preparations for national reforms to the Primary PE & Sport Premium, the central Government funding stream that supports school sport programmes across the country.
The council is supporting schools to effectively use the transitionary funding during the current 2026/27 academic year before the new PE & School Sport Partnership Network comes into effect from Spring 2027.
Councillor Claybrook added: "With these national changes to local funding on the way, we're planning ahead and consulting with our schools to ensure that opportunities remain plentiful and that the programme will continue to meet the needs of pupils and schools across the borough."