Let’s Get Active! How PE Apprentices Are Boosting School Sports Provision

 

National School Sports Week 2025 is the perfect time to reflect on the incredible impact that physical education has on young lives, and how schools can boost their PE provision in smart, sustainable ways.

This year’s theme is Always Active championing 60 minutes of PE, sport or play every day.

As former PE teachers, we know the challenges schools face expanding their PE provision. Taking on PE apprentices, or using a PE, Health and Wellbeing apprenticeship to upskill your current staff, is a highly effective way to support this.

Below we explore some of the ways to use PE and sports apprentices to do this (and because it’s National School Sports Week we couldn’t resist sharing some of our favourite warm-up activities that we teach them!)

 

 

 

Sports enthusiasts with specific knowledge….

Hiring a PE apprentice, who will gain dedicated training on the job, can help fill gaps in PE expertise and extend sports offering in your school.

Apprentices gain an understanding of child development theory, learning how to harness physical activity to boost wellbeing and use movement to support self-regulation. They are also taught how to scaffold learning, improve access to PE, and support progressive PE activities, ensuring every child is challenged appropriately.

Headteacher Richard Pallant from Woolenwick Primary School notes how apprentices helped to spread knowledge of best practice in PE throughout his whole staff.

Our apprentices have provided valuable support for both pupils and class teachers. They have even led whole staff training for the rest of my team to develop their confidence when delivering PE!

Seeing the enjoyment and enthusiasm of our pupils since having a PE apprentice has been extremely rewarding

 

Richard Pallant, Headteacher
Woolenwick Primary School

 

While Helen Smith, Headteacher from Manor Fields Primary explains how PE TA apprentices have been supporting children with SEND and helping them with self-regulation and active learning.

We’ve recently achieved our School Games Platinum Award and sports apprentices have been at the heart of that. Yet it was only once we started using apprentices more in class that we realised how hugely valuable they also were for engaging pupils with their classroom learning.

 

For pupils finding more traditional learning methods challenging, especially those perhaps with attention difficulties, we’ve increasingly used our PE apprentices to support children in lessons, using active maths, active literacy etc, in small focus groups for pupils. 

 

 

Helen Smith

Headteacher
Manor Fields School

 

From supporting the Daily Mile to leading Boccia…..

Here’s just a flavour of some of the activities that PE and sports coach apprentices might be doing.

Level 2 Community Activator – helping your PE teacher to coordinate initiatives such as the School Games programmes, promoting the School Swimming and Water Safety charter and local sporting events (triathlons, football matches) etc. and encouraging and inspiring pupils to take part. Leading PE warm up activities and the Daily Mile. Promoting healthy active lifestyles such as through active breaks / lunchtimes.

Level 3 Teaching Assistant – assisting the PE teacher with lesson delivery, leading new activities in after school clubs, such as tennis, ultimate frisbee or hockey, helping out with morning sensory circuits for children with SEND. Not to mention providing additional support in the classroom as well, and bringing in ideas for active maths and literacy.

Level 4 Sports Coach – creating tailored coaching programmes, leading specialist sessions such as gymnastics, goal ball or boccia, coordinating School Games Mark applications, devising programmes to encouraging reluctant girls to get into sport, evaluating sessions and their impact on whole-child development.

 

Beyond PE support

Hiring a PE apprentice isn’t just about boosting your PE provision. Apprentices quickly become valued members of the whole school community.

• Many schools rely on their PE apprentice to support during lunchtimes, helping to organise active play and promote positive behaviour.

• They often relieve pressure on Teaching Assistants, giving TAs time to focus on targeted interventions or classroom preparation.

• PE apprentices can also run after-school clubs, promote healthy lifestyles, and even assist with sports day planning or inter-school competitions.

Apprentices are a win-win as schools gain a motivated and capable team member, and young people get more opportunities to be active and thrive!

 

Funded training through the Apprenticeship Levy

Schools we work with are using their levy on a range of apprenticeship solutions. For example, we currently have schools who are using their levy pot to hire a new Teaching Assistant, others are upskilling their current team. Some are even doing both!

“A PE Apprentice brings real value to schools, not only by increasing capacity, but by enriching the quality of PE through fresh, inclusive approaches that engage every pupil.”

 

 

 

Henry Mead
PE, Health and Wellbeing Curriculum Lead

 

Find out more

Want to know how a PE apprentice could benefit your school? Get in touch and explore how we can support your school can get involved.

Call us: 01784 222300
Email: info@esfapprenticeships.co.uk

Explore our PE, Health and Wellbeing apprenticeships