About the School Games

The School Games brings motivational and meaningful opportunities to young people through sport and physical activity, with engaging experiences that support their wider development.

We work alongside schools and young people to understand their needs, co-creating physical activity programmes that build on pupil’s overall wellbeing and resilience.

The school games support the physical, personal, emotional and social development of young people, with a focus on those facing inequalities and in greatest need. Through incorporating inclusive physical activity, competition, leadership and training pathways, young people are encouraged to achieve their personal best.

National and Local Partnerships

Funded by Sport England the School Games programme is delivered nationally by Youth Sport Trust and other partners, and locally by a network of School Games Organisers working alongside Active Partnerships such as Active Norfolk.

  • The Youth Sport Trust provides development support to schools, sports and other local partners. We work closely with the Youth Sport Trust to deliver the School Games at all levels.
  • The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, who have overall policy leadership, supported by the Department for Education and the Department of Health
  • The British Paralympic Association, who bring the vision and inspiration of the Paralympic Games to the School Games

The School Games provides a national network of over 450 School Games Organisers and over 40 Active Partnerships who work together locally.

Together the School Games delivers positive experiences for young people from over 40 different sports and activities, equipping schools and parents to support young people to be active for at least 60 minutes a day. The School Games also provides opportunities both virtually and face-to-face to maximise the support offered to schools and young people.

For further information on the national programme, including the School Games Vision and Mission, please visit the School Games website here or take a look at the School Games Roadmap 2023-24.

School Games Values

Instilling the School Games’ Values of passion, self-belief, respect, honesty, determination, and teamwork supports educational settings to achieve their broader whole school objectives. Pupils are encouraged to embrace these values during each School Games experience.

Teamwork – Treating everybody equally, supporting each other and working together to achieve at your very best level. Celebrate each other’s successes and be a positive team player.

Determination – Determination is about the journey you go on to push yourself and achieve your dreams. Have the mental strength and self-discipline to overcome obstacles, commit to your goals and keep working every day to become the very best you can be. Don’t hold back!

Passion – Giving it 100 percent. Putting your heart and soul into the game and never giving up. Passion makes you enter the race and passion makes you finish it. 

Respect – Respect for the referee, for the opposition, for your teammates, for yourself and for the game. Accepting victory and defeat with grace, treating others politely and with understanding. Respect every day, for every sport and everyone.

Honesty – Honesty with others and with yourself. Having the courage to do the right thing and what you know is right. Let the best person win, not the best cheat.

Self-Belief – You’ve got to believe to achieve. Have the self-belief and confidence to succeed and reach your personal best.

Eco-Friendly – We encourage all pupils and staff to bring reusable water bottles to events and reduce their carbon footprint where they can.