New approach to school sport following Lionesses win

The government will be introducing a new approach to school sport, as part of a series of plans announced by the Government to honour the success of the Lionesses. 

The new approach will see the government work with schools and National Governing Bodies, like the FA, to make sure that all children have access to high quality sport. 

By working to connect local sports clubs, national bodies and schools, a network will be created to make sure girls have the same opportunities as boys to play sport at school. It follows recently announced plans by the Prime Minister to reform school sport to deliver equal access for girls alongside boys. 

A new Women’s Sport Taskforce will bring together leaders from across sport and academia to ensure the incredible progress seen in football is accelerated elsewhere. The Taskforce, which will meet for the first time at this summer’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, will focus on finding solutions to the most pressing challenges facing women and girls in sport, from female athlete health to building a more diverse and dynamic workforce.

The government is also announcing new plans that are expected to more than double the share of primetime slots dedicated to women’s and girls’ teams at Government-funded facilities across England over the next five years, with a clear long-term target of reaching equal access as demand grows. 

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will also honour the team’s second consecutive UEFA European Championship title by dedicating flagship sites and pitches to the Lionesses, celebrating their journeys from grassroots to international success.

These moves are the first details set out on how some of the Government’s £400 million investment in new grassroots facilities, announced in June 2025, will be allocated to inspire more people to enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity. 

In partnership with the Premier League and The Football Association, the Government will be launching a new grants scheme to be delivered by the Football Foundation, which will focus on creating welcoming, safe and accessible facilities for women and girls at existing grassroots sports sites.