Education Minister Paul Givan has unveiled a new £500,000 initiative to boost primary school pupils’ engagement, attendance and wellbeing through professional sports coaching in disadvantaged communities across Northern Ireland. The RAISE Active Schools Programme will bring structured multisport sessions to 96 primary schools, reaching up to 9,600 children in areas identified as having high levels of educational disadvantage.
Launched on 27 April 2026, the programme represents the latest strand of the wider RAISE (Raising Achievement and Inclusive, Sustainable Education) initiative, which is funded through the Irish Government’s Shared Island Fund. It aims to tackle the persistent gap in educational outcomes between children from deprived backgrounds and their peers, using physical activity as a lever to improve both wellbeing and classroom engagement.
Professional sports bodies to deliver 10-week programmes
The initiative will see four professional sporting organisations—the Irish FA Foundation, Ulster Rugby, Ulster GAA and Ulster Hockey—deliver structured coaching blocks across 18 RAISE localities. Participating schools will receive a 10-week programme delivered in addition to existing Physical Education provision, with the Irish FA Foundation acting as lead partner.
Paul Givan said: “This new initiative will provide opportunities for up to 9,600 pupils in selected primary schools situated across the 18 RAISE localities to participate in structured sessions across a variety of sports lead by professional bodies. It will provide access to coaching that these pupils may not otherwise have access to, enhancing existing PE provision and building capacity in schools selected.
“Participation in sport provides opportunities for pupils that go far beyond physical benefits and skills. There is potential to contribute to pupils achieving their potential through greater engagement, attendance and wellbeing supported by opportunities to develop teamwork, confidence and leadership skills.”
Francis Brennan, Schools Development Manager at the Irish FA Foundation, welcomed the launch, stating: “I am delighted that the Irish FA Foundation will lead delivery of the RAISE Active Schools Programme. This initiative represents a significant investment in children’s wellbeing and engagement, particularly in communities where the impact will be greatest. Working alongside Ulster Rugby, Ulster GAA and Ulster Hockey, we will provide high-quality coaching that builds confidence, strengthens attendance and supports pupils to reach their full potential. Together, we are creating lasting change in primary schools across Northern Ireland and giving thousands of children the opportunity to thrive through sport.”
Part of £20 million cross-border investment
The RAISE Active Schools Programme sits within a broader £20 million (€24 million) two-year investment running from 2024 to 2026, with potential for further funding. The programme operates in 18 localities across Northern Ireland—including Antrim, Ballymena, Belfast, Derry/Londonderry and Newry—selected using objective criteria such as free school meal entitlement, Special Educational Needs data, pupil attendance rates and GCSE attainment.
The Minister emphasised the sustainability angle of the project, noting that the partnership model is designed to leave lasting benefits beyond the initial 10-week delivery period. Paul Givan said: “I am delighted to have secured the invaluable expertise and support of the Irish FA Foundation, Ulster Rugby, Ulster GAA and Ulster Hockey in developing and delivering this Programme. By building capacity within schools, we are ensuring sustainability beyond the life of the initiative, enabling long term improvements in Physical Education provision and creating the best possible opportunities to improve educational outcomes for children who face additional barriers.”
Schools wishing to participate must submit an Expression of Interest by Friday 8 May 2026 at 12 noon. Full details are available in the RAISE Active Schools Programme Call for Expressions of Interest document.
Context and considerations
The initiative arrives against a backdrop of longstanding concerns about PE provision in Northern Ireland. Research published in 2022 indicated that approximately 74% of primary schools were failing to meet the Department of Education’s guideline of two hours of PE per week. More recent data suggests only 20% of post-primary pupils receive the recommended 120 minutes of PE weekly, with significant drops in physical activity participation as children progress through school years.
While the RAISE Active Schools Programme offers additional coaching, it operates alongside rather than replacing existing PE lessons. This raises questions about whether temporary, externally delivered programmes can address systemic curriculum shortfalls where schools lack time, facilities or specialist staff to meet baseline requirements.
Attendance remains a critical marker for the programme’s success. Official statistics for the 2024/25 academic year show that while overall school attendance stood at 92.1%, pupils entitled to free school meals—one of the key demographics targeted by RAISE—had an absence rate of 12.1%, nearly double the 6.4% rate for their peers. The Minister’s emphasis on sport as a tool to boost attendance aligns with evidence linking physical activity to improved engagement, though the mechanism for sustaining these gains after the 10-week block ends remains unclear.
The programme also forms part of eight “cross-cutting initiatives” under RAISE, which include professional learning clusters, an online Science of Learning Programme, and a Holiday Revision Support Programme. Further information on these complementary initiatives is available via the Department’s RAISE Cross-Cutting Initiatives page.
Questions for stakeholders
- How will the Department measure whether the 10-week coaching blocks translate into measurable improvements in attendance and academic attainment, and will these metrics be published by locality?
- Given that three-quarters of primary schools currently fail to meet minimum PE guidelines, does this initiative risk providing temporary relief rather than addressing systemic capacity issues within the curriculum?
- What specific “capacity building” will be provided to classroom teachers to ensure quality PE provision continues once the professional sports partners depart?
- How will the programme ensure full accessibility for pupils with Special Educational Needs, and what adjustments are being made for schools with limited sports facilities?
- With the RAISE Programme funded through the Shared Island Fund only until 2026, what guarantees exist that successful interventions will secure ongoing funding beyond the current budget cycle?
What happens next
The Expression of Interest process closes on 8 May 2026, with successful schools expected to begin delivery during the 2026/27 academic year. The Department has indicated that all applications will be assessed against criteria including alignment with RAISE Strategic Area Plans and demonstrated need.
Observers will be watching closely to see whether this sports-based intervention can deliver the dual goals of immediate pupil engagement and long-term systemic improvement in educational outcomes—particularly in localities where disadvantage has historically proved resistant to narrower, short-term interventions.