“Sugar tax” money to fund school sports facilities

Schools are set to have the chance to bid for a portion of a £415 million pot to fund new sports facilities.

Money generated from the governments “sugar tax” will be available in 2018 and will be put into the new Healthy Pupils Capital Programme, the education secretary Justine Greening has announced.

The money will be handed out to local authorities and multi-academy trusts where spending decisions will be made.

However, schools in smaller trusts and sixth form centres will have to bid for some of the cash.

Greening said: “Schools can really help our children get a healthy start in life from exercise and sport, and also from knowing what a healthy diet means. It’s not only good for them while they’re in education, but the health and wellbeing benefits can last a lifetime.”

The money will also help support young people with mental health issues and comes from the soft drinks levy.

The Treasury believes that £1.2 billion could be raised from the tax over two years from April 2018, but the government has stated that funding will not drop below £415 million, despite what the levy cash total is.