The Culture, Media and Sport Committee report identifies persistent financial pressure, limited facilities, lack of prioritisation in the school curriculum, and absence of national co-ordination as barriers to sport and physical activity in England. MPs claim that funding for school and community sport is insufficient and increasingly unstable. The committee reported that children not naturally adept at sports have negative experiences during PE, and a new fun and inclusive curriculum was required. Dame Caroline Dinenage, the committee chair, stated at a press conference that the country loves supporting sports stars but too many barriers stop people from participating themselves.
To address these issues, the report proposes making school sports more inclusive through uniform changes. MPs say children should be allowed to wear tracksuits in class to make school uniform more inclusive. Giving pupils the option to wear trainers or sportswear during regular lessons as standard would allow them to be more comfortable throughout the school day. These measures would help reduce barriers to activity, lower costs for families and increase participation in sports, particularly among girls. The report focussed on the kit used for physical education classes, finding it can deter some children from getting involved. While boys tend to look forward to sports lessons, girls are more likely to view it as embarrassing or stressful - mainly thanks to the clothing worn. Around half of girls do not feel comfortable getting ready for PE, according to a study by Sky, with key reasons being privacy in the changing rooms and mandatory over-sexualised uniforms. Since Covid, thousands of pupils across the country have been allowed to arrive at school in their sports kit and wear it during regular lessons in a bid to mitigate the often uncomfortable process of changing. Schools should encourage more children to enjoy PE by implementing uniform policies that prioritise comfort, inclusivity and dignity, and the report urges more practical, activity-friendly school uniforms.
The committee also calls for broadcasting reforms to boost women's football. The report calls for women's football to be exempt from the long-standing restrictions on broadcasting the sport on Saturday afternoons. In England and Scotland, no matches are currently shown during the 3pm blackout slot to encourage attendance at games. 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 to be active. A dedicated broadcast slot for women's football would provide consistent coverage, grow audiences and challenge persistent gender stereotypes. Dame Caroline Dinenage added that boosting the visibility of strong role models for girls is key to inspiring activity.
Further recommendations include removing unnecessary 'no ball games' signs and expanding sport options. London Sport claims 560,000 Londoners are put off by 'no ball games' signs. The committee suggested that skateboarding, roller skating, cheerleading and parkour could be included alongside traditional sports to cater to a wider range of interests. Emily Robinson, chief executive of charity London Sport, said in a press release that they are pleased to see recognition of the importance of unlocking spaces around us.
The report calls for a cross-government strategy to deliver a healthier nation and an increase in funding to boost participation in local communities. MPs want spending on sport and recreation to increase from 0.3% of total government expenditure to at least 0.6% over the next 10 years. The document also urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to double Government spending on sport and recreation from 0.3 per cent of GDP to 0.6 per cent. Dame Caroline Dinenage emphasised the need for a national shift in thinking about sport.
However, concerns have emerged about fairness in women's sport. According to GB News, Labour has prompted renewed concerns over fairness in women's sport after a new proposed guidance appeared to permit schoolchildren to participate in sports categories designated for the opposite sex. A Department for Education consultation on school sports guidance, set to conclude later this month, has critics worried about the new wording on single-sex sports in schools. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated in a public speech that in primary schools, they need to tread with a lot of care. The specific wording in the Department for Education consultation that is causing concerns remains unclear, and it is unknown how many 'no ball games' signs are considered unnecessary or what criteria will be used for removal. The current status of the committee's recommendations and their likelihood of implementation by the government is also uncertain, as is how schools will balance the call for more inclusive uniforms with existing policies and potential resistance.